Life.

When we are growing up, most of us feel invincible when we think about our future and what would happen if we ever got hurt. Whether it’s on a bike without a helmet, smoking cigarettes, or crossing the streets without looking both ways, we all know, and believe, it would usually only happen to the other person.

That changed for two young men at our local high school Friday night. (Both were on the football team.)

As they drove down a road in between our community and the one next to us, something happened and they drove into a pole. I am not sure if it was a utility pole or a restraining post, but they were hurt and hurt very badly. Although the reports are moving swiftly through Facebook, e-mail and texting, the word through the local newspaper is these boys are in danger of dying. How sad is that?

One of the young men was a superstar on the football team and both, I am told, were “good guys.” How do I know? When one of my daughters went downtown to interview the homeless for a project she was working on---both of them escorted her and a friend for the interviews. When you have football players with you, the likelihood of a bad situation is reduced---these young men were real gentleman making sure all went well. (A lost quality in today’s world of doing what’s only good for you and not really caring about what happens to the other person.)

The thought of young people with so much potential being robbed of their dreams is very difficult to understand; in addition to their fate, I think about both sets of parents who right now have more than likely shed more tears, said more prayers, and are wondering what the next step in their life will be should either one of these “sons” passe away. I can’t imagine the pain these families are in at this time.

When our soon to be seventeen year old takes the car and drives, the worries don’t stop until we know she is safely back home. The fear of “the call” is not one we can ever prepare for---hearing on the other end that “something is wrong” is incomprehensible. (We went through a major scare about 3 weeks ago with our 5 year old, the difference, she is much better; for these 2 young men, that may or may not be the outcome.)

The photo above was taken in Columbia, MO on the University of Missouri campus. A bright light coming through the trees, that let’s us all know that no matter what we do in life, there is always another sunrise or sunset coming into our lives. As a parent, I do hope for these young men they each have several more ahead in their lives. We are praying for you.

Thanks for stopping by.