lenten journal: unraveling

2
2000

First, I want you to watch this short film–which I learned about from my friend, Hugh Hollowell, who has a wonderful newsletter–you can subscribe here–then we’ll talk.

I feel presumptuous even saying anything after such a wonderful picture of love, but I am going to anyway.

If you have followed this blog for any time at all, or if you have been around me much, you have heard me mention Patty Griffin’s song “When It Don’t Come Easy.” When I first began to come to terms with my depression in 2001, the song gave me something to hold on to.

red lights are flashing on the highway
I wonder if we’re gonna ever get home
I wonder if we’re gonna ever get home tonight
everywhere the waters getting rough
your best intentions may not be enough
I wonder if we’re gonna ever get home tonight

but if you break down
I’ll drive out and find you
if you forget my love
I’ll try to remind you
and stay by you when it don’t come easy

The chorus described what life felt like everyday: I broke down and Ginger drove out to find me. And she always found me.

I thought about her and those days watching the movie about the dinosaur who was willing to become unraveled to show its love for the fox who needed to be found. Just as powerful, for me, was watching the fox collect the yarn and the stuffing and begin to put the dinosaur back together again. The unraveling was not the last word.

Unraveling is not a bad metaphor for these days; so is feeling like you are drowning and can’t get out of the pool. When we do what it takes to drive out and find each other, we find out–over and over–that love is the last word.

I will let Patty send us out.

Peace,
Milton

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