Long Time Coming

It seems impossible that I'm still wrestling with the issues of my friend who always seems to be teetering on the precipice of the world of the married. I don't know how many times in the course of the past few months she's had to utter the words divorce. I still don't feel like there is closure in her life; therefore as her friend, I listen to her struggle...over and over. What happens when a really unhealthy person clings to what he knows is a good thing, yet makes his wife's life nearly unbearable. This is when it is hard to see God's hand. I know that his timing and provision is perfect, and I know that his big picture is so much larger than I could ever imagine. It's just hard to see what good can grow from a still broken marriage that only one person is willing to try to fix.

On a personal note, as I look over the blog entries of May of 2007 when I did not get a job as an assistant principal, one year five months later, I have been an assistant principal since July 1. I absolutely love what I do. It is challenging and frustrating and fun and maddening and joyful all at the same time. I love getting up and going to school in the morning, even if I set my alarm for 5 a.m. I feel like I am making a difference in education. I am learning many new things everday.

The Struggle

Maybe I've been fortunate. Maybe I've been sheltered. Or maybe I've just never been this close. Marital infidelity wreaks havoc...on everybody. One of the early posts on this blog was some of my first reactions to my friend's affair. So much has happened since then. So much. It's been about ten months since I first found out about the affair. While healing is never easy, it has been excruciating witnessing the long, drawn-out, painful process that is supposed to lead to a stronger marriage. Her husband needs help--more help than he's getting. The respect and admiration I had for him for sticking with her has long gone out the window. While I acknowledged his part in the affair, I didn't realize what a major role he played. And for the past 10 months, instead of getting better, he has just changed his methods of manipulation.

Because she is my friend, I have listened. I have offered counsel. I have prayed. How she keeps it together each day, I'll never know. The worst part, though, has got to be not knowing how it's going to turn out in the end. When a person begins a journey, it's usually with a goal, a destination, in mind. This journey doesn't seem to have an end.

I am having a difficult time processing this whole ordeal. I will write more later.