Dead Man Walking

My title is not a deep or clever metaphor for Christianity but at this point I wish it were. Do you remember when you were in school and you got a bad grade and you knew you had to show it to your parents. You knew you were gonna die when they saw the grade. So the night before you had to reveal your red letter you really took life in. You played harder, ate more, and even took the time to brush your teeth and clip your nails. But even as you trimmed you felt your impending doom. That is how I feel tonight. Why? Simple, Pain and Panic the children who I am potentially spending the next five days with. Pain and Panic are jungle children. If they didn’t have a nanny they would be the toddlers left in the apartment to figure it out themselves and end up on the six o’clock news.

The story is this:

My Patron says to me we are going on a boat trip so we need to pack.

- How long?

- Five days. We also have invited Pain and Panics family to come with us.

- How fun.

- Ya but I don’t know if you should come because it is gonna be crammed.

- Ok just let me know.

(Later)

- I think I want you to come and you can sleep on the couch. But that might not be comfortable for you.

- No that’s true.

- But I feel four kids is too much for the Captain to handle by himself. Panic is a little crazy.

- Maybe but there is not much I can do for Pain and Panic because they don’t speak English. If panic has a screaming fit there is not much I can do to fix it.

- Yes but I am afraid they will go in the boat wet or with cream on.

- Well the Captain will be there and so will you.

- Yes but I am afraid I will get tired and not enjoy the trip if I am checking up on the kids all the time.

- You can sleep on it if you like.

- Oh can I? That would be wonderful because I just don’t know.

What on earth? There is going to be 10 people on a boat meant for 6! I am going to be sleeping on a couch in the living area and having to deal with Pain and Panic the minions of Hades, lord of the underworld. She wants me to take care of kids I can’t communicate with. She is afraid she’ll get tired? Well welcome to parenthood sweetie. It is no cakewalk being a mommy. It is not hard to supervise your own children and relax. Otherwise my parents never would have taken me to the beach as a child. You sit where you can see them play and let them go at it. Their just gonna watch tv half the time anyway so why does it matter? (I know it is a real tragedy.) I am a dead man walking. Oh well, through the good times and the bad it is well with my soul.

O My child, I am coming to thee walking upon

The waters of the sorrow of thy life; yea, above the

Sounds of the storm ye shall here my voice calling thy name.

Ye are never alone, for I am thy right hand.

Never despair, for I am watching over and caring for

thee. Be NOT anxious. What seemeth to thee to be at

present a difficult situation is all part of My planning,

and I am working out the details of circumstances to

the end that I might bless thee and reveal myself to

thee is a new way.

As I have opened thine eyes to see, so shall I open

thine ears to hear, and ye shall come to know me even

as did Moses, yea, in face-to-face relationship.

For I shall remove the veil that separates Me

from thee and ye shall know me as the dearest

Friend and as they truest Comforter.

No darkness shall hid the shining of My face,

for I shall be to thee a bright star in the night sky.

Never let they faith waiver. Reach out thy hand, and

thou shalt touch the hem of My garment.

-Francis J. Roberts