Dare You to Move...

A little over three years ago, one of roommate's father died in a terrible plane crash. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember being in my bedroom when my friend Kate knocked on the door. I thought she had just stopped by to say hello and such. But instead, she was there to break the news of our friend's father's death. I was completely and utterly shocked. How was that even possible?!? It can't be true. It just can't. I remember walking around the rest of day in a daze and stupor. Chemistry lab seemed so insignificant. Everything seemed duller and less important and less meaningful. I remember driving in my car and hearing the Switchfoot song, "Dare you to move." The song gave me some hope and drive. Yes, there would be a time of mourning and sadness. And this was necessary. But, the song then challenges you to "lift yourself up off the floor. Dare you to move, challenges the vocalist. Dare you to move like today never happened. I was not ready to move that day. Nor the next day. Nor the next week. But when the timing was right, I moved and I moved past the absolutely horrible situation. I moved on for my friend who COULDN'T move. Life changed forever for my friend. And it will always be changed and she will always miss her father. But, even she, even my friend dared to move. We have to move. Or we too, will pass away.

I am reflecting upon this subject because once again, I am speechless and I am in denial. A beloved professor who taught my classes last spring died last week from cancer. She was 38 years old, married, and with two young children. I keep thinking to myself, it cannot be true! It just can't. She had had so much energy and drive. She was a wealth of knowledge. She was so young. But, it is true. After a three month battle with cancer, she has passed. A mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a physical therapist, and many other relationships she had formed. How can it be true? I think of her family and friends. Their new pain, a pain they never asked for. Will her children ever know what an amazing person their mom was? Their lives have changed forever. Willl they, one day, be able to move again? Will those who have experienced loss ever truly laugh again?

I don't know the answers to my questions. Thanks be to God, I have never lost a close family member or friend. All I know is that tonight I will say a special prayer for my professor and her family. And I will continue to say that prayer. This world is constantly changing. Time will not stop for us. The question is, how long can we stop, and reflect, and remain stagnant before the world become unrecognizable? Before our lives are no longer our own because we fail to move on and accept the change that is upon us.

Tonight, I dare you to move. I dare you lift yourself up off the floor and grab hold of your life. It may hurt. It may hurt a lot. But it might feel really good at the same time?. It's truly sad to say it, but the world will go on without you. Change is inevitable.

Will you dare to move?