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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
that's going too far
a bridge too far
so far away
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I have a little experience with feeling like I'm too far away from my loved ones, and it's not a great feeling at all. Thirty years ago now, we packed up our little car and a moving van and set off across almost the entire continent on a move that took us far away from my family and all my friends. We weren't quite as far away from my in-laws, but still. It was an adventure and we soon made new friends, but we were So. Far. Away from my kids' grandparents.
And then just over a year ago, my husband and I moved to Ohio and even though the distance wasn't nearly so great, it felt very far away from our kids in Maryland. And especially far away from our little granddaughter! Six hours drive isn't terrible, but it's definitely too far away to go back for church every weekend, y'know?
My husband and I both drive about half an hour to get to work, and we don't mind, but honestly it's farther than I like to drive during rush hours and when I'm tired.
Why does everything and everyone have to be so far away?
I get what the Psalmist was feeling when he lamented that God seemed terribly far away. I've certainly felt that as well, like I'm so alone and comfort seems so very far from me, and it's tempting to wonder if God even hears or cares. But woven into the cries of grief are the statements of fact as the Psalmist reminds himself that God is trustworthy, and he absolutely does hear our cries. The feeling that he is far away is just that ― a feeling. He is near to those who call on him and he's always listening. Hang on. Help is on the way, and it's not far.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
But you, LORD, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
~Psalm 22:1-5, 11, 19, 24~
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Please enjoy the song that has been my earworm inspired by the prompt:
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oh Kym, it's been a tough year of adjustment for you. I wouldn't be keen to drive a 1/2 hour to work either... though I love my 20 minute walk to work (or five minute drive in bad weather). :) All my family is an hour or more away as well. Sometimes it would be so nice to just pop over for a hot minute to chat with either of my mom's. Distance is sometimes so hard to overcome.... FMF22
ReplyDeleteAnd just think of how hard it was in past generations, when video chat and phone calls weren't options, and when travel was so much more costly and time consuming! We have it pretty good, I guess, but of course if given the choice we'd always want to be closer to those we love. ((hugs)) Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteWow! I hadn't really stopped to think about your family being in Western Canada. That would be so difficult. I miss my brother and sister a lot and haven't seen them for a few years now. My drive (when I was teaching) was 20 minutes through rural areas. I knew to the minute how far I was away from home at each intersection because I'd been driving it for two decades! I don't like to drive in congested traffic so we tend to just stay home a lot of the time. And, that's not good, either. Life can be so complicated, right?
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
On our visit to Alberta in October we finally got to spend time with my brothers and sister that we hadn't seen in ten years! Crazy! I never minded my drives to work and such in Maryland, but it was all through rural areas or small towns. Now my commute is freeway and interstate and it's stressful! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI really appreciated this post, Kym. I so miss folks when they go away - especially children! They grow so quickly. You made me think of the Carole King song - 'So far Away' (doesn't anyone stay in one place any-more) Blessings to you, Kym. #27
ReplyDeleteThat's another good song about being too far away. I especially miss my granddaughter - little ones change and grow so quickly, I feel like I'm missing out on so much. Very glad it's easy to share photos and videos across the miles! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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