In The Cracks

Over spring break, a girl from my hometown passed away. She was the fifth person I knew of from the area that has died young in the last year and a half. Shortly after getting back to school, I learned that one of my former Girl Scout Troop leaders, as well as the mom of an old friend, had lost her battle with cancer. My TA for one of my classes then informed us that she had been diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer and that we wouldn't be having a final exam. Nearly a week and a half later, the bombings in Boston happened. 

It has been a lot to take in, and I've started to wonder, how do we really go about not taking anything for granted in life? Is it possible to truly live and make the most of the moments that we have without ignoring personal pain? On one side, there's the acronym made famous by a popular rapper. On the other, there's the notion of having an "eternal mindset." Instead of trying to explain it all, I'll just let the poem do the talking. 

In The Cracks

Bombs flying

Buildings collapsing

She says she’s got cancer and the other is one breath away

From the other side

It seems like the world has been brought to its knees once again

And as much as I don’t want to ask what the hell or why

Together it doesn’t make sense

The short span of time

And so I’ve realized that real life

Is not just short, but precious

Like grains of sand coursing through my fingers

The question then becomes

How do you hold on when something moves so fast?

Which side do you choose when you’re standing in the cracks?

The side where the rocks are always moving

And you’re slipping and sliding

Living for the thrill of the unexpected adventure

Maybe not always doing everything right

But trusting God to guide you

Then there’s the smoothest path

The one without any roots to get stuck in

You never get scraped, or bruised, or burned

You just simply watch from the cracks

I don’t want to live by a silly acronym

Or wait till Jesus comes back

Is it possible to live for the moment, to not have any regrets?

At least without betraying beliefs

I’m not sure and I probably won’t ever be

And that’s OK

It’s silly to wait another five decades to live like I have nothing to lose

And spend time caring about what other people think

Love, forgive, and accept Grace

Inhibitions will not keep me at bay

Others opinions will not change my mind

If I’m that determined to accomplish a goal or get something done

I’m not going to stop until all the doors have been closed

Maybe we’re not always supposed to know what to do

Or how to do it

Maybe the most beautiful things can only be seen

When we end up in the cracks