Amy's 'momentary trouble'

Someone much more famous than I once said, ‘If you have an itch, scratch it’. As I’m sure you have surmised, Amy is still itching. I sat and watched her scratch the soles of her feet last night, first with her nails and when that wasn’t sufficient, she switched to a butter knife and when even that failed to satiate her fervent need for release, she used her car keys and she went at it with such vengeance that I truly feared she might harm herself. I asked her to ‘Please, be careful’. The itching is actually so intense that it will wake her multiple times during the night and the routine ensues. She is taking a prescription strength anti-itch medicine, but that (pardon the pun), doesn’t even scratch the surface. This itching really has me feeling detached. If you know me well, you would know that I am a very touchy/feely guy (at least with my wife). There are times when I find myself needing to hold her hand, take her arm while we’re walking, put my arm around her, kiss her on the head or simply just touch her arm. As you can see, this incessant itching has put a real cramp in my style. I often find myself reaching out to touch her and then pulling up short, knowing what it might start. I once made the mistake of reaching out and lightly rubbed her back and she whipped her head around and gave me quite the look (pursed lips, eyes wide and bugged out)…guess I wont be doing that for awhile.
This whole itching and scratching thing got me to thinking, all of us go through life itching and scratching, sometimes clawing for something; fame, fortune, knowledge, whatever. Something, anything that defines our lives and gives us purpose. I find it interesting that most of those who base their definition or purpose in those pursuits listed above find that it’s not enough, not fulfilling, even empty. Why is that? I believe it is because when it is all said and done, none of that matters. I believe God set within each of us the desire to search him out. He doesn’t force us, but rather sets us off on a path that if followed to its end will lead to him. Ecclesiastes 3:11 puts it this way: “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” This is a simple statement with big implications. Think about it: this is why, throughout the entire course of history, humans everywhere have had longings for something that is yet to come. Intuitively, the human race knows there is something more than this life has to offer; there is something beyond the grave. God has set eternity in our hearts. That’s why we long for something lasting. Something only God can give to us. Where have you been scratching?

This is Amy's story as seen and told by me - V