Thursday, June 23, 2011

“I’m still alive. I’m still alive.”


 
Nearly 10 years ago, Richard and I left our very comfortable and happy lives in Arizona---backpacking on the weekends, teaching snowboarding, rolling kayaks in the swimming pool or white water kayaking in the rivers.  Four-wheeling and sleeping under the stars.  Rock climbing and enjoying the great Arizona desert.  Teaching and coaching at a school I loved and spending nearly every day with our families…

Ten years ago, our lives were grand.

Ten years later, our lives our different.

We have made friends.  But we have also made enemies.  We have spent our last dollar to help people with addictions---only for some to continue to drink.

I have been demoted from an educator with a name to simply a pronoun or impersonal reference, usually in the form of “This is Richard’s wife,” many not even asking my name.

We left blue skies and sunny weather to days where, during the winter, the sun only shines for 6 hours---biting wind and gray skies encompass 5 to 6 months a year. 

For me, it’s been difficult---yet easy.

How do I explain it?

Hopefully this man will help.  His name is Tadeusz. 

We met Tadeusz nearly 10 years ago.  He has and remains a very big alcoholic. 

Unfortunately, his life has not changed.

Yet, the other day when I was going to pick up Adelyne at a coffee shop (the meeting place), I saw Tadeusz sitting outside of the mall.  Alone.  Intoxicated. 

It quickly crossed my mind---just go in and get Adelyne.  You are in a hurry.

But I stopped. 

No one should ever be in such a hurry that they don’t take the time to love someone. 

And, so, I approached. 

“Czescz, Tadeusz!”  He immediately stood.  I extended my hand and he, in very traditional Polish style, kissed it.

We talked a bit---He asked about Adelyne, and I asked how he was doing. 

He said, “Jeszcze zyje. Jeszcze zyje.”  Which means, “I’m still alive.  I’m still alive.”

And then we departed with these words coming from Tadeusz, “Kiss Adelyne and greet Richard for me.”

And I did…

How do I explain giving up our beautiful families and lives in Arizona? 

I can’t.  But perhaps if we were in Arizona then Tadeusz may never have sensed love in Poland. 

And love is more important than comfort.  It’s more important than 4-wheeling.  It’s more important than people knowing your name. 

Love. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of thes
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e is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13