Home Alone

"Home Alone" is usually recognized in our culture as a child in the family "Home Alone" probably for the first time.

It's a cold, dark October night, and I am Home Alone, somewhat to my surprise.  I'm not a kid.  I have things to do.  I've even done a couple of those things, assigned by Molly.  Like phoning back two friends who've called wanting to "get together."  I love that.  Catching up.  Confessing what's in my mind and on my heart these days.  Talking about life with dear friends I care about.  Sharing possibly the news of the day, but, more like the news of my own concerns and inner thoughts.

As I saw Molly off with our Tamsie to be at our Artie's MASTERWORKS East Ridge High School Bel Canto Choral Concert in far-off Woodbury, I thought of how much we take for granted when we send our dear ones off into the night - even for just a few hours.  That they'll be safe.  That, of course, they'll return.  But all kinds of dangerous possibilities are out there.

I concluded I must not surround my Molly and our Tamsie with fearful thoughts, but rather with call to my Lord to send Holy Angels to accompany them on their way, to protect them, and guide them, and bless the concert to which they go, and to bring them home, safely, and happy.

I waited up for Molly's return.  She was lovely, and impressed, and full of good news of magnificent music these high school students had sung so well.

A little, important lesson for me, about when I am alone, and when my nearest and dearest are not at my side.

I confessed to Molly my loneliness at being "home alone."  Her quiet, loving, yet slightly rueful answer was, "I spent many nights like that over the years."  I confessed how sorry I was that that was true, that I had failed to order my busy ministerial life in a way that made a higher priority of time at home with my family.  She does not begrudge me that, but let me know she had made important sacrifices for the ministry we chose together to do.

Twenty-four years after our parish life together, I can take great joy in these years of reconciliation work together in Africa, in which our ministry was shared and in which she made such huge contributions by her strong and quiet leadership as we were together.

How late we learn the deep and real things of our life together.  Our constant repentance and forgiving is so important to our life of awareness and keeping up with those who mean so much to us.