Unfinished Business

I don't believe in the Easter Bunny, the Boogey Man, or the Tooth Fairy, but, crazy as it sounds, I do believe in ghosts.  It's not a far stretch from believing in the soul - the part of us that continues on after we have shed this body that keeps us captive here on earth.  If you are a Christian, then I know you have heard of the "Holy Ghost" - the "Spirit" part of the Trinity - the part that exists around and in us and that guides us through our trials and tribulations.  I do not believe that heaven is literally above us or that hell is somewhere down below either.  I believe that, somehow, the "afterlife" exists on the same plane as the one we occupy.  If our eyes could see into the spiritual realm, I think we'd be shocked by what is around us.  With bodies, we are limited by space and time, as well as by what we can hear, taste, see, smell, and touch.  Without them, the possibilities are endless.  Recently scientists discovered that with the neutrino, it is possible to go faster than the speed of light.  It turned Einstein's theory of relativity on its proverbial ear!  Translation?  Theoretically, time-travel may be possible.   I also believe that, with all the possibilities that will be available to us, for most of us, the realm we will be in after our bodies die is so wonderful, that we will have no reason, no desire, to hang around "here" anymore.  But for some, that is just not the case.  For some, there is what can best be described as unfinished business.  In the photo above and to the left is a window on one of the at least 3 buildings on the William & Mary campus that is rumored to house a ghost.  Below is another one:

I took these photos during what was called a "Lantern" (or late-night) tour of the campus.  It's strange but I was not trying to find ghosts on the tour, however at these 2 locations (both of which are purported to be haunted) there were shadows or light in the windows, as you can see in my photographs.  Coincidence?   I'm not so sure...

When I was 17, my grandmother died and, for several days afterward, she came into my and my mother's rooms in the middle of the night and brushed a comforting hand across our cheek.  Even though we were startled at being awakened by her touch, it did not frighten us per se.  It was just something she had to do.   She had died completely conscious and aware, but unable to speak due to a tracheotomy, therefore unable to tell us one last time how much she loved us, or to say good-bye.  At least that's how I have tried to make sense of it. 

In a beautiful book called God's Child Andrew, a mother and father write about the death of their 6 year old son, Andrew, who had wanted nothing more than to be an Altar Boy.  And on one icy Sunday, on the way to church of all things, there was an accident and little Andrew was killed.  The family's grief was so strong that Andrew appeared to his mother, father, and grandmother, encouraging all of them to stop mourning, that he was happy and at peace.  I had the pleasure of meeting with and talking to this incredible couple (the father actually became a priest because of what he had experienced!) and it was such a blessing.  I will forever be grateful for the experience. 

So, yes, I do believe in ghosts, but that is not exactly what this post is about.  I have been unable to sleep lately because I left unfinished business down in Williamsburg.  And like a ghost that can not find peace, the soul within me will not rest until I go back down there and take care of things.  When we were there last weekend, my son was sick and feverish.  He had an infection but had not been taking his antibiotics properly.  Everything in me told me not to go home - but we had to.  My husband had a job to get back to and my other son had to go to school.  I felt I should have stayed and it has bothered me all week.  He is not feeling much better, so now, I am going back - by myself - to make sure my son is all right.  And, if not, to help him get the care he needs.  I look at the many pictures I took of our visit last weekend, but the ones that I can not stop looking at are the windows with the shadows behind them.  Like kindred spirits reaching out to each other across a transparent divide, I know my place.  Right now at least, it is to be back with them on that 300+ year old campus filled with opportunities, incredible young men and women, and the spirits of those who, for whatever reason, have been destined (or have chosen to) stay behind...