Saturday, February 20, 2010

Surreal

I sat in the lobby of the court room.  Surrounded equally by weeping women, stoic men, shell shocked children and lawyers frantically running back and forth.

"Anyone need a duty lawyer today?"  15 hands go up.

There were familiar faces.  Smiles exchanged.  Glances met and avoided.  Lives laid open before a judge.  Names revealed. Personal details.  Accounts of failures and successes.  Stories I do not want to know.  Stories I want to forget.

The legal connection between parents and children severed or restored.

I sat.  I heard my name called and my intentions stated.  Papers filed.

We were told to come back in a month. 

Lives resting on the balance of the scales of justice. 

One moment of one day surrounded by 1000 moments on 1000 other days.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh wow...

Anonymous said...

When I was a social worker I sat through too many of those moments. I often wonder if I will one day have the compassion, strength, and heart to go through it as a foster parent.
The jury is still out on that one.

Di said...

Sigh... May you know the strenght that God promises each step along the way. Praying here!

Patty said...

Praying... for the babies & for your hearts...