Growing agony, growing peace.

Posted on August 25, 2008
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I’ve spent the last three days in Juneau, Alaska. The new home of my daughter, now a Freshman in college.

It’s been an interesting three days. You can get within a few feet of bears. You can see Bald Eagles around town. There are wolves in the woods, and the woods are everywhere. It has rained virtually non-stop since we got here. There are multiple glaciers and there is snow on all the local mountains. The Summers in Juneau are like the Winters in Southern California. Yet there is a refreshing since of hospitality. And the beauty of the place is everything and more of what people say about Alaska.

But the really interesting thing about Juneau is leaving my eighteen year daughter here.

The idea of being a protective father is no longer achievable. She will simply be toooooo far away.

I am not at peace with any of it.

Yet, in the midst of my growing agony, I have a good number of deep thoughts about God and his character and the role of my faith in Him.

They’ve been good thoughts. Not easy, but good. I have no choice but to trust God. I have no choice but to let go.

The next several months and years will be a growing experience for my daughter. There will also be some growing pains for her parents.

It’s a good thing I am a Christian. Otherwise, my agony would be compounded, and I wouldnâ€™t have someone greater to lean upon. As I have no choice but to let go and trust God, I also have a great God with whom I can trust.

There is a growing peace in that thought. I hope it grows as thick and as immense as the woods all around Juneau.

Some pictures of Juneau. More pictures of Juneau.