blessing the end

GOOD-BYE

A father with a scarf over her head hoists his 6 year old up on the first step of the school bus. "Good-bye," he says.

A mother on the phone with her first year college son has just bawling him out for his first grades. There is mostly silence at the other end of the line. "Well, good-bye, " the mother says.

When the teacher at the airport hears the announcement that his plane is starting to board, he turns to his class who is seeing him off. "I guess this is good-bye," he says.

The noise of the traffic almost drowns out the sound of the word, but the shape of it lingers on the old man's lips. He tries to look vigorous and resourceful as he holds out his hand to the other old man. "Good-bye." This time, they say it so nearly in unison that it makes them both smile.

It was a long time ago that the words God be with you disappeared into the word Good-bye, but every now and again, some trace of them still glimmers through.


TEARS

You never know what may cause them. The sight of the Atlantic Ocean can do it, or a piece of music, or a face you've never seen before. A pair of somebody's old shoes can do it. A horse cantering across the meadow at sundown. Almost any movie made before the great sadness that came over the world after the World War Two. The finale of a campfire or the end of a hard-won match. The final cheer given by your students surrounding you. Their simple song, and their last words of dedication. You can never be sure. But of this, you can be sure. Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention...



thank you pioneer...

adapted from f. buechner:
whistling in the dark