To the Moon and Back

an interlude between Acts 1 and 2...

Before I post my next story I wanted to share a poem from Madeleine L’Engle. I’ve been reading “The Ordering of Love,” a collection of poems. In life we have 3 Acts., like a play. Many of them are about Act 2., love, marriage, children., and Act 3., pursuing wisdom, slowing down, death of a spouse, lonliness.

Her work is deep, reflective and relateable. While grounded in faith, she reaches the places of my heart where deep joy and grief live simultaneously.

35 years ago today, at a famous birthing center, my husband grabbed me from behind as the midwife screamed., our firstborn in danger. After 17 hours of grueling back labor, young and fooled into believing hospitals were cruel places for children to be born., standing, he held me. As I bore down and screamed my child into the world on a cold floor, blue, wiggling and silent, I can still feel the unknown. The hope in my heart to have the time to love him.

Lessons on immaturity, critical thinking and discernment. Gifts we don’t deserve, carried forward, with gratitude. An early season of growth, in a season of imperfect devotion.

Thank you for “this moment of time.”

To love you.

A season to keep.

Happy Birthday.