Two weeks ago our family received the crushing news of our 26 year old son's death. I always felt extremely sorry for those who tragically lost a child, and could not begin to comprehend the tremendous pain one must feel in such a harrowing experience. Now the pale rider has passed by my son's door in Austin, Texas. Words cannot communicate the deep groanings one feels for the untimely passing that defies all that is fair, just, and kind. The tragedy left his younger siblings reeling with despair. A grieving parent deals not only with their own emptiness, but they must calm a young child's fears as well. Not an easy task when young children possess immature reflective apparatuses. Heaven, for them, seems remote and far away.
Misfortune, however, reveals God's mercy. Like a tediously fixed unfolding curtain on a Broadway stage, the God of Jesus Christ lifts the veil separating mortals from his glory. For one thing, the lifted veil exposes God's offer of mercy through our choice to accept his light, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Jesus reminds us that all die. Whether 26 or 96 all humans die and that fateful day arrives soon, with a grim promise to leave others grieving. Second, this Light assures us of a resurrection. I'm reminded of the Bible's emphatic affirmation at this point:
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:21-25 NIV)
The Light must form a philosophical prism which filters all life's events. Through this prism the Light of the World touches every dark corner of our lives with its multifaceted colors of grace. It naturally impels us to accept death's reality, experience God's presence, and trust in the resurrection.
In addition, tragedy reveals God's love through empathetic, unselfish individuals who offer a kind touch, a listening ear, and a warm presence. People are indeed closest to God when they minister to those in need. The Bible in fact, assures us of this salient truth when it explains:
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (I John 4:7-8)
Furthermore, adversity contains the very seeds that launch God's Holy Spirit into our midst. The Holy Spirit inspires this whole scenario of light and love. We hope and people love because God gives us his Spirit. But, God's Holy Spirit works independent of human personality as well. The Bible confirms that he walks along side us in our most apprehensive moments. He calls us to think as God thinks and to feel as he feels. He sustains our emotions cushioning our initial shock with numbness, offering us a part of our dearly departed one's spirit, and giving us the grace to move forward. Without this Comforter we would surely die.
The coming days may bring despair and an emotional roller coaster. But, the God who conquers death will certainly conquer our living nightmare as well. Therefore, with confidence we place our trust in him, remembering how Jesus said, "I am with you always."
GRIEF BRIEFLY OBSERVED II
When a young man such as my oldest son dies an untimely death we grieve deeply for the what if's or what might have been. But, this grief is for ourselves and not our departed. He lives on high in glory with Christ. What could be better. Only when we settle with this fact can we confidently and creatively face the future without him.
Posted by jeffreymark at 07:52 PM in Commentary, Personal | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)