A Normal Life

"Without faith, moving away from the 'normal' we've created can be unbearable."

A Normal Life

Here in Iowa we often say, “If you don’t like the weather today, wait till tomorrow.” Yes, it’s going to change. There is no normal. I listen to the daily weather and forecasters speak of a normal high and low temperature for each day. Isn’t it true that there are no normal temps, only average temps for each day? Well can’t the same be said of life in general? It seems logical for us to have a goal of living a normal life. If we really look at that as a goal we must realize that we all have a different scale of what normal is. Are we just seeking comfort or control of our lives?

Maybe it is possible to live in the comfort zone of a normal life for a portion of our lives. Then, for sure, something out of our control will come along and totally disrupt our normal life. What then? Do we lose control of ourselves, forget our faith, and say why does this always happen to me?

Following the Parkersburg F5 tornado and the death of Ed Thomas, I was told by a newsperson from the east coast that the reason the media was hanging around for so long was because our response to tragedy was not normal. That made me really proud; sometimes abnormal is good. But the AP community members were not alone. It was by the help, support and prayers of other good people that made it possible for our community to recover. To me, you don’t have to look too hard to see that this support does happen all over America. We join together when our normalcy gets destroyed. Gotta love this country.

When my best friend Ed Thomas was taken from us, I remember thinking that
people from small town Iowa just don't have their best friends murdered. It wasn't normal. It made no sense. Then I heard the words of Ed’s son Aaron. Aaron Thomas– a man that I had years earlier held in diapers as he spit up all over me. Well, he grew up, and at a news conference he said, “It is not ours to question.” Those words changed things for me. I was reminded that it’s faith. Without faith, moving away from the "normal" we've created can be unbearable.

Miraculously, not long after this I watched the movie Tombstone. Another OMG (oh my goodness) moment happened to me. There's a scene in the movie where Wyatt Earp says to a dying Doc Holiday, “I just want a normal life.” Doc Holiday responds,“There is no normal life Wyatt, it's just life, get on with it.” I believe this to be true. We are faced with obstacles and we change our paths; there is no normal. That logic may help us get beyond some of those abnormal times in our lives.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways submit to him, and he will make 
your path straight." 

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Your Challenge

When our normal lives become unpleasantly disrupted, remember that there is no normal life, just life. Keep the faith.

Respectfully,
Al Kerns & the Ed Thomas Family Foundation

This post is written by Al Kerns, a long-time friend of Ed Thomas and a team member with the Ed Thomas Family Foundation. Al coached with Ed for 30+ years at Aplington-Parkersburg.