One of the priorities for yesterday was learning how to get around a new city. On past trips, we figured out the subway system. Our focus this time was the trains.
We first spent time studying the schedules, the maps, and the fare structure. We talked it through to make sure that we understood as much as we could. We bought passes. Finally, it was time to put our knowledge to the test; it was time to make a trial run. The test was to see if we could get to Times Square -and back.
Friday night in Times Square - what could be better than that?
We first spent time studying the schedules, the maps, and the fare structure. We talked it through to make sure that we understood as much as we could. We bought passes. Finally, it was time to put our knowledge to the test; it was time to make a trial run. The test was to see if we could get to Times Square -and back.
Friday night in Times Square - what could be better than that?
The train trip into the city was uneventful. We learned a few more things on the way, but nothing dramatic. We arrived in Grand Central Terminal. Before going on to Times Square, we decided to figure out the details for our return trip that would happen later that night.
Standing in the middle of the massive, hurrying throng of people, we stared at the list of dozens of future trains on the marquee. We knew what we were doing (kind of), but we still had some questions. Knowing that we would be leaving Molly in this world soon, we thought it best to answer as many questions as we could. After figuring out as much as we could on our own, we took our place in line to talk to one of the ticket agents. When our turn came, we explained that we were trying to figure out the trains. We said that we had a few questions.
The ticket man took a deep breath and smiled broadly. He made it clear to us that he had something important to say. And he made it clear that his words were for Molly. He looked right at her as he talked.
"First," he said, "Learning to ride the trains is going to take some time. This is harder than it looks. But you'll figure it out. So, first, give yourself some time."
"Second," he said, "you need something to guide you." He waved his thick schedule in the air. "You can't make it without a schedule. Keep your schedule close and look at it often. This schedule has everything you need. Don't you dare ride the trains without this guide!"
"Third," he said with a twinkle in his eyes," Don't be afraid to ask for help."
He assured Molly that she would do fine - as long as she remembered those three things.
Today is moving day for us. Today is meet-the-faculty day. Today is orientation day. And today is also saying-good-bye day.
I have been thinking all week about what I will say to Molly right there at the end - right before I say, "I love you." The ticket man gave me my parting words.
Right there at the end, just before "I love you," this is what I will say to Molly:
Standing in the middle of the massive, hurrying throng of people, we stared at the list of dozens of future trains on the marquee. We knew what we were doing (kind of), but we still had some questions. Knowing that we would be leaving Molly in this world soon, we thought it best to answer as many questions as we could. After figuring out as much as we could on our own, we took our place in line to talk to one of the ticket agents. When our turn came, we explained that we were trying to figure out the trains. We said that we had a few questions.
The ticket man took a deep breath and smiled broadly. He made it clear to us that he had something important to say. And he made it clear that his words were for Molly. He looked right at her as he talked.
"First," he said, "Learning to ride the trains is going to take some time. This is harder than it looks. But you'll figure it out. So, first, give yourself some time."
"Second," he said, "you need something to guide you." He waved his thick schedule in the air. "You can't make it without a schedule. Keep your schedule close and look at it often. This schedule has everything you need. Don't you dare ride the trains without this guide!"
"Third," he said with a twinkle in his eyes," Don't be afraid to ask for help."
He assured Molly that she would do fine - as long as she remembered those three things.
Today is moving day for us. Today is meet-the-faculty day. Today is orientation day. And today is also saying-good-bye day.
I have been thinking all week about what I will say to Molly right there at the end - right before I say, "I love you." The ticket man gave me my parting words.
Right there at the end, just before "I love you," this is what I will say to Molly:
"Molly, first, figuring this life out
is going to take some time.
This is harder than it looks.
But you'll figure it out.
So give yourself some time.
Second, you have this Book
that tells you everything you need to know.
You can't make it without this Book.
Keep it close and look at it often.
Don't you dare try to go through life without your Book.
Third, don't be afraid to ask for help."
is going to take some time.
This is harder than it looks.
But you'll figure it out.
So give yourself some time.
Second, you have this Book
that tells you everything you need to know.
You can't make it without this Book.
Keep it close and look at it often.
Don't you dare try to go through life without your Book.
Third, don't be afraid to ask for help."
The ticket man in Grand Central Terminal didn't look anything like God. But he sure sounded like him. And as he talked with us with that twinkle in his eye, I actually wondered if more was happening in that moment than we imagined.
God speaks in all kinds of different ways. I wonder if we hearing him speak to us last night.
God speaks in all kinds of different ways. I wonder if we hearing him speak to us last night.