Today on our ride home, my daughter remarked, "I'm trying not to grow up too fast, Dad, but it's hard." She's on the cusp between child and young adult, between self-awareness and self-consciousness, between free agent of the Holy Spirit and product of the world's expectations of her. As much joy as it gives me to watch her mature so beautifully, I find myself wishing the scales of her life would tilt a little in reverse, too...back toward her carefree days. But the wish is a vain one. As the hymn puts it, "time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons (and daughters) away." We are perpetually on the cusp of that which our journey has in store for us, and while change can be promise, we can all be forgiven the occasional glance in the rear-view mirror. That mirror, after all, can be one of life's greatest repositories - and reminders - of the wonder we have experienced.
Prayer: "God of the journey, help me to linger here on the cusp of tomorrow, just for a moment. Help me not to grow up any faster than I have to. Amen."
