looking back

There is something beautiful and painful about memories. They seem to find us in the quiet moments, as if they've been waiting to peek through the busyness and cluttered nature of our lives. For me, when I catch a glimpse of the past, sticking it's nose cautiously into my world, I get stopped dead in my tracks. For a while I'm in a trance.

Humanity becomes numb to change. We can't feel it happening most of the time. Sure, we're aware of the big things, like moving across the country or painting our bedroom or getting a new car. But we miss the everyday changes, the subtleties. We can't feel ourselves getting older, we ignore the fingers of Father Time as he gently sculpts wrinkles and blemishes into our skin.

Perhaps our lack of awareness is a blessing. There probably aren't many people who want a countdown to the end of their days. But at the same time, I enjoy seeing the changes life brings, over a year, a week, a day, even an hour. To think about how far I've come. To smile at innocent mistakes. To regret intentional ones. To see the hand of God through it all, the one thing that hasn't altered one bit.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank God for that.