Watching the Sunset

This past July, our family had the opportunity to hike for three days and two nights on the Appalachian Trail. We covered about 12 or so miles. It was wonderful. As a family, we were able to spend "quality" time together. As we hiked, we talked, we looked at things, we laughed, we moaned and groaned (just a little!) ....things you normally do while hiking. We also hiked in absolute quite for a bit. What a treat!

On our last evening, we watched one of the most spectacular sunsets from the peak of Standing Indian Mountain (a mountain that was not so kind to me during a hiking trip in college!!). It was during this sunset that I was brought back to the thought of CHANGE....the one we were living and the one we were facing. This word was created out of the view that evening. Just when the site could not get any better, it did. It miraculously changed and became even prettier. This changing sunset was in slow motion. You could literally watch the movement of the sun, the clouds, and the fog. Yet this slow moving sunset all happened so fast. It left us just as suddenly as it had come to us. Just as the sun would set, our lives would change. Change......I knew it was coming. I knew we would trade in the North Georgia Mountains for the concrete streets of the city. The children would change schools. Brad would be a student....no longer employed. I would have to find a job. Our lifestyle would definitely change. We would meet new friends and form new relationships. Everything we thought would change, did. What I did not anticipate was the change within us as individuals.

Coming home for Christmas opened me to the internal change. I don't know what to say about it or even how to describe it...... things were just different..... not bad..... just different. We remained in the midst of family and friends, surround by love and graciousness. They each refilled us and gave us a renewal of strength and encouragement on this journey. Yet something was different. Something had changed. Maybe it was the fact that we were able to drive again. Maybe it was the fact the rooms we were in were the size of our apartment. Maybe it was walking out to grass and trees. Maybe it was accepting one generous act after another. I don't know..... things had changed.

It was on our drive home that I realized that New York offered us a sense of security during this time of transition. It is sort of like an incubator. We are in this small, safe community facing this enormous change in our life. Slowly, just like the sun setting, we are changing..... little by little. Some days it feels like the sun is breaking through the clouds. Others days, it feels like the fog rolling in. But with each trial comes clarity. With each glimpse of beauty, we find a sense of peace.

When we look back on this time, I hope we are able to think......... just as sure as it came, it went. Wow what a beautiful sunset! Until the sun sets tomorrow......