The tooth... the tooth... the tooth...

(actually, the subject line is a quote, but a fairly obscure one...)

I get the joy of having two teeth extracted today. :-/ Yeah. One is broken down to the gum line, so they get to go digging for it. The other has been giving me grief for a couple of weeks now. Thought it was going to get a root canal and crown, but when the endodontist looked at it, he decided that it would cost more than it's worth to save it.

Now, I get to have a little session with the oral surgeon. "Oral Surgeon." Two words that you don't really want to hear together.

The upside? Is there one? Yeah - no more pain from that tooth. That'll be worth it.

We're expecting to get the news that Vicki's grandfather has passed on any day now. He's 101, and is very close to his journey to (as C.S. Lewis would say) "the far-off country." And even though he is well along in years, there will still be pain at his passing. But that pain for us will be a release from pain for him and an entry into joy everlasting. It could be many days before it happens, or it could be today. And for grandpa, it will be worth it. No more pain, no more suffering.

Kind of like losing a couple of teeth. Some discomfort ("Prepare for a lot of stinging!" - that's a less-obscure quote...) and then it's over.

We have a good friend who knows about this - his mom left for glory over the weekend. Her pain and burdens are laid down. For those left behind, tho, the pain and loss will be around for a while. We're praying for you, friend!

Depressing? No. Just longing for the day when "the grey rain curtain rolls back, and then you see it... green hills, and a swift sunrise." The far-off country.

Keep your eyes on the green hills, friends. One day at a time, and soon we'll be there.