Well, it has been quite some time since my last entry in GOOD NEWS ON THE DOORSTEP, this blog. Indeed, last year my fraternity brother, mentor, and friend, Dr. George Arangio received the Ivy League Football Association's highest award in NYC, and so many of us celebrated him. That great event made it into this collection of good news, reveries, and reflections on all things. Since then, baby-sitting, the Nutley Hall of Fame Nominating Panel, re-writing the screenplay for Bad News on the Doorstep, travel, Army and Cornell Football, and other excuses have kept me away from a more regular schedule of adding to this blog. MEA CULPA.
But, as some of you have seen on my Facebook, two sudden communique's yesterday stunned me to finally pause, reflect, and write. Yes, it was BAD NEWS, ... from Cornell of the sudden passing of my fraternity brother Jack Smythe, ... and then the death of a fellow wearer of the "C", former Big Red linebacker, Steve Garcia. Oh boy, sudden REVERSALS in life, so reluctant was I to accept.
Jack was bright, humorous, a Buckeye from Rocky River, an entrepreneur, devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was not sick, so his sudden passing has left so many of us Cornellians with a pain deep in our spirits. The same goes for Steve, ... so faithful, so committed to Cornell Football, his family, friends, and public service. REVERSALS in life we all find difficult to accept.
Those of us who believe in Eternal Life and the Eternal One who promises it to those who expect it, the consolation is my friends are in a better place. But, having experienced such sudden REVERSALS in my own life relative to those closest to me, ... I still wonder how I and others have survived such loss. "The Lord will not give you more than you can handle;" "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians, 5:8). Yes, a balm to our spirit, mind, and body, ... but such REVERSALS.
Yet, in my writing experience, I discover that REVERSALS are essential in quality writing, and a SURPRISE that creates emotion, drama, doubt, pain, but even hope.... suddenly HOPE? Yes, that it can only get better; that maybe there is eternal life, that "... what the Enemy has meant for evil, God will be turned for good." (Genesis, 50:20).
But it hurts, so why are REVERSALS so essential for good writing??? BECAUSE THEY ARE REAL, AND THEY TEACH. A sudden change in direction, a REVERSAL in writing will surely get your attention, and teach a lesson. The best lesson here relative to my two friends suddenly passing to their eternal reward?... ENJOY THEM IN THE MOMENT, ... in this moment we can find a portal to eternity where all the best that life offers can be experienced. I enjoyed my time with Jack and Steve, ... but gee, not as much as I would now, knowing they would leave so quickly. We learn more and more each day, even with REVERSALS.
In conclusion, great writing requires REVERSALS, but in life, without our HIGHER POWER, REVERSALS CAN TAKE SO MUCH FROM US. With the Lord and the wisdom of the ages, while we seemingly are never prepared for REVERSALS, the hurt can be minimized, ... and we can start enjoying the next moment, even more. Particularly, while the loss of my college friends was a tough REVERSAL, I am reminded they are now in a better place, and I can be too, if I can only remember to enjoy this next moment, once the hurt of the REVERSAL has subsided.
Until next time, Joe, finding GOOD NEWS ON THE DOORSTEP
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