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Paradox

My cousin, Geoffrey, turned 21 today. I called him tonight to wish him a happy birthday and was thrilled to hear his voice. It was filled with life and a sense of awe. As he so aptly put it, "I'm sure Shakespeare has a word for how I feel right now, but I'm too lazy to look it up." I remember that feeling. I still feel it. We talked briefly about those moments in life where you look around and understand right there what a wonder it is to breathe.

About an hour later, I found myself stopped on the road waiting for an accident to be cleared. As I watched the medical helicopter fly away, I mumbled, "Lord, please help them." When I was 18, my response to being stopped by an accident was, "Someone had better be dead since I had to wait all this time." Now I want to cry. I love how putting some time under your belt changes your perspective.

I find these days that I say two prayers on an almost daily basis. The first is in the morning before I even stretch my legs. Before I open my eyes. "Lord, we need your strength today." The other is the one I mentioned at the accident scene. Doesn't it all seem to boil down to that? Help. Strength.

And when these two concepts become a real part of our lives, magic happens. I'm sure Shakespeare has a word for that, but I'm too tired now to look it up.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Geoff!
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