Consequences

i always want there to be grace.

I want there to be another chance.

i want there to be a surprise-twist and thing to work out for good.

but sometimes there are just consequences.

sometimes we make decisions...or other people make decisions that effect us...or people make decisions that don't directly effect you - but you still have to watch it play out...and there are consequences that just can't be avoided. sometimes, no matter how much you wish for another way, another chance, a surprise twist, or to move backward, what you get is a consequence instead.

really...i don't like this.


i've been thinking about this a lot over the past few months. there have been a few different situations in my life and in my community that have played out with consequences that i don't like.

it has been hard at times.
i have longed for there to be another way.
i have wished and hoped and worked toward another end.
but what i'm left with at the end of the day is the same old consequence(s).

this is sobering to a hope-addict.


sometimes we don't get the "do-over" we wish for.

sometimes i make decisions that hurt me, and others...and that's just the way it is. sure there's grace, and room for growth and redemption...but those don't erase consequence.

sometimes people i care about have to walk through the consequences of their decisions (and it sucks). sometimes I walk through with them. sometimes my role is only to watch (and that's hard too).

sometimes the road doesn't wind back around for a second chance (sometimes is does).
sometimes life is linear.
i don't like it.
not at all.
but it seems important to recognize nonetheless.

i also know that we rarely see the end of a story.
even in the middle of hard days, and hard consequenses...
...the story isn't finished yet.
(just can't shake Hope...even when i try)