Friday, August 05, 2005

The Best and Worst of Times

     Kari has said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing me here."  Though the people at Swedish were absolutely incredible, she actually feels comfortable at Craig Hospital and is amazed at all the classes available to her (including swimming) and all the people and technology they have to take care of her and help her get better.
     The hospital is paying for Aaron to stay back at the Marriott until an adjacent apartment comes free.  It's a beautiful set up, and only 15-20 minutes away.  At Craig, too, there are enough people attending to Kari that he feels they don't need someone in the room or just down the hall every single minute.
     It's been a high for these two to get into the Craig rehab program.  Yet Aaron and I talked last night about that classic line that begins Dickens' *Tale of Two Cities*: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  These two aren't on a roller-coaster.  Rather, they're living in the paradoxical tension created when best and worst walk side by side.  They have never, ever felt so loved, and will never be able to thank you all enough; yet they have never felt so alone at the same time.  They, as we all do, thank God that Kari is doing better than expected; yet, of course, she is still largely paralyzed.  I tried to convey this paradox in an earlier update speaking about how joy and suffering walk side by side.  It's not that they aren't looking to and trusting in God with thanks, either.  They are.  It's a strange feeling that's maybe harder to express than to actually live in, but it's a reality I wanted to try to convey to you to help you pray for these two.  Your prayers are what they have needed the most from the beginning and will continue to need as they move into the rigorous stage of rehab.
 
--Richard R. Guzman       

5 comments:

Chris Monroe said...

"These two aren't on a roller-coaster. Rather, they're living in the paradoxical tension created when best and worst walk side by side. "

It's great that this is being recognized so early on. Kari and Aaron remain very much in our prayers here in Barstow -- our entire church staff also sends them their love.

Thank you for the wonderful way in which you are keeping all of us up to date.

Anonymous said...

kari and Aaron, just wanted you to know that you are both continually in our prayers. The kids just returned from IYC and were glad to have been able to see you both.

Anonymous said...

We pray that there will be considerable progress now that Kari is in rehab and that she will begin to feel more in control of her healing.

Anonymous said...

We are thinking of you daily ...hourly ...as we go through our days in the UP Michigan. Larkin and Kendra and their friends and families have you also in their prayers as God has you in His arms.
Love,
Mom Barrett

Franki said...

Love you guys! As we pray for you today, we also pray for your Ethiopia Missions team! What a wonderful opportunity for them to serve!
Love~
Franki