Day 79

Do you feel safe in the world?

I was still thinking about this question when I went to a memorial service for a friend on Saturday. It is hard to feel safe in a world where a 54 year old woman can give thanks for her good health in November, begin to experience mysterious pains in December, go to the emergency room in January, be diagnosed with cancer in February and die before the first blooms of spring. It is hard to feel safe in a world where two young women have to announce their engagements, plan their weddings, birth their children and finish growing into adulthood without their mother. It is hard to feel safe in a world where a man who finally found the love of his life has to say goodbye after only a few brief years together. It is hard to feel safe in a world where a woman with so much left to give is forced to let go.

The world is not a safe place. It is full of landmines. Our love of life and each other imposes tremendous liability. Someday we will lose it all. There is safety only in the here and the now. The present moment is a sanctuary, a retreat from our grief and fear.