What is your Alpha and Omega?

Recently I heard a pastor share reflections at a fund-raising lunch I attended.  She referenced "the Alpha and Omega" (beginning and end) as we know it as Christians, but also talked about how we all experience the Alpha and Omega in our own lives.

Our Alpha is pretty concrete.  We all know our beginnings.  Some of us have more solid beginnings than others, but if you have reached the point where you are reading this blog, you survived your beginnings and know the story of "you".  You can recite a date that is celebrated (or acknowledged) annually and look forward to a repeat performance in the years to come.  The Omega is a different thing.

None of us know our ending.  Not only are we clueless about the date, time and means of our Omega. many of us live as though this outcome is optional.  And how about all the times we have wished our life away (specifically those Monday's where we get up and already wish it was Friday).

The "Beginning" of the evening

Last weekend, Madison went to her "last" Jr/Sr. formal.  She has already experienced the end of her basketball season and we are now in the playoffs for softball.  Graduation looms in less than four weeks.  The "Omega" of high school is coming.  Yet, four short years ago, she was at the Alpha of all her high school experiences.  Not knowing what the outcome would be, (and only vaguely acknowledging that at some point it would be over), she and her classmates excitedly began this time of life.

It is the same way with marriage.  When we commit to a beginning with someone, it is assumed that we will be with them "until death do us part".  As evidenced by statistics, death morphs into divorce for many and comes at all different times in a marriage (with as many different reasons).

Yet we begin each new venture as if there is no end in sight.  Which is as it should be since we want this to be a marathon versus a sprint (by God's Grace).  Nothing would ever get done or be successful if we were already planning on an "escape" plan.

However, regardless of outcome, it is important to note that with each ending, there comes a new beginning.  Madison will go from a high school graduate to a college freshman in the fall.  Everything is new and the possibilities are endless.

Even when a marriage ends. the affected couple begins life "anew".

I don't know what my Omega looks like, but I do know that this place we are in (wherever it is) is not our last stop.  I am thankful for all the positive experiences that began with such hope, and maybe even more thankful that negative experiences finally ended.  Even as each day ends, a new one begins.

Until next time,
#thatslife

your pal,
Kari