Things that Matter

"In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?" --Walk Across Two Moons

Perched up on the roof
Flat and dry in the afternoon haze
Eating a picnic of hamburgers and fries
You should hear our footsteps in the rooms below!
I look at my 3 musketeers--
Dana as she waves at random cars passing,
Alisha as she poses beside me for the camera-
"Let's act like we're falling!" We careen on the edge,
And Weston as he runs back and forth,
The length of the shingles, playing with a camcorder
That has no tape, giving a tour
Of a rooftop playhouse.
We laugh and salt our fries and talk of zip lines
And are just together.
And I look at them and know
That these are the things that matter.

Snuggled next to my littlest brother--
My buddy, my pal--as together
We experiences other times and lands
Sharing the world captures on old pages:
Zia, Gramps and Gram, Peeby, Karana, Huck and Despereaux.
We read for hours and then we talk
Of life, hopes, and dreams, disappointments,
And all of the things that make living sweet.
Long explorations down old gravel roads,
Building a treehouse,
Sitting together, waiting for the horses
Plucking clumps of sweet grass for Lady and Mary.
We giggle and wonder, dream and imagine.
And I think--In 10 years these days will be over
My sweet Austin, THESE are the things that matter!

Long trips through the night home with Zac--
Reflecting on life, God, and things yet to come.
Holding a lonely child in my arms,
Oohing at artwork from their fingers to mine.
Wiping the brow of a dying man,
And crying with his wife as she clings to his hands.
Late-night talks with parents dispelling my fears,
Laughing with sis about our funny quirks.
Sharing heartaches and needs and stories of the journey,
12-hr days on a bus through the West.
Listening to my guitar students play and sing,
Feeling the ache of the desperately hurting.
Rolling haybales, and writing, and watching my
Girlfriends become brides,
Getting lost on the subway, first-ever cliff jumps and
Watching a hard man cry.
Experiencing God in the love of another,
I look at my journey and the relics gathered
And know that these
Are the things that matter.

--Rae