A funny thing happened on the way to getting married to you last weekend. I remembered the past as a reflection in the water. I was standing on one side of the water, but looking down and across the pond, I saw a reflection on the other side of the water. In that reflection, was my old life. My old life had some good points and some not so good points, but the reflection was quite clear to me.
Just recently Nancy Reagan passed away at the age of 94. It seemed like just yesterday that her husband Ronald Reagan had passed away not too long before to great fanfare and mourning. But, it was really actually near 12 years ago. Twelve years ago was a very different time and a place in my life (as I suspect it is for many people, including my wife Kristi). I was in a different relationship, my daughter hadn't been born yet, three of my late family members were alive and well, I had my old house and enough hair to justify not shaving it yet. In short, I had a relatively simple life and had yet to experience some of the darkest moments. But like a reflection, it wasn't as 'solid' and carefree as it seemed. The storm clouds were always there waiting to disrupt the reflection, but they hadn't yet evidenced themselves.
Little did I know, that withing a few years, I would have a daughter, my former relationship would reveal itself as having a weak foundation, and just about everything else I took for granted would change in a my life. Much of what seemed permanent and important then, now I know to have been temporary or passing and unimportant. But, so it is with life's rich experiences. You don't always have a sense of what really is until long after the fact. However, looking back you realize that if you had looked closely enough, you'd have seen the storm clouds and recognized things for what they really are/were. Maybe that's why wisdom is more often associated with older people. Older people, have had the opportunity in many cases to experience that carefree optimism, but also have seen much of that optimism struck head-on by life's storms.
But, I digress. I have come to recognize that when facing life-changing events it is inevitable to do reflecting and perhaps some soul-searching. Since the day I met you, you have always has been one to not only accept me, but to understand me and enjoy me for who I am. I hope you can say I provide the same. After a moment or two to consider the reflection in the water, I realized that it is okay to remember and if necessary mourn the losses of the soon-to-be old life, while embracing the new life with you and your kids. We can't and shouldn't worry about relitigating the past, but we can and should embrace the future God has put forward to us.
I wave goodbye to the reflection, but that doesn't mean I will forget it, it just means I choose to embrace the unknown future with you, my lifetime partner. But, I embrace it with the the hard earned wisdom of what love is truly all about. I intend to use the wisdom God had blessed me with to embrace the new life He has set before me.
Love,
Your husband Rich
