Tag Archives: Loss

Tragedy

Living in the Spirit
October 8, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Then Job answered:
‘Today also my complaint is bitter;
   his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. –Job 23:1-9

The news is full this morning of news related to a limousine wreck in New York State where 20 people were killed most related to one another, most young adults just started in life. Job knew how that felt as he lost all his children. I am sure he had many long conversations with God crying out “Why” giving all his well thought out arguments for why none of the losses should have fallen on him. We can feel his palpable confusion, pain, and grief when we read this scripture. We can apply those same responses to the family and friends lost in the vehicle accident. Bad intersection, perhaps no seat belts or ones not being used, no airbags, perhaps a history of poor vehicle maintenance, all these things will be pursued but the people are gone.

We live in a complex world where tragedies abound, and we learn of them because our communications systems alert us immediately from across the earth. Where is God in all of this? God, our Creator, grieved with Job and grieves with each of us as one would expect the ultimate parent of all peoples everywhere would. Parents exist to prepare their children to become adults in a challenging world, where they are free to make decisions regarding their lives. God through the Holy Spirit is active an engaged with each of us an all of us collectively to guide an sustain us, if we reach out and accept the help offered. We are tasked to work in oneness toward supporting each other as we grow in wisdom and in truth. In those times when we cannot comprehend the enormity of events, our faith in the God of Love is what holds us together as we try to piece together our lives.

Prayer: Lord, let your love flow through all those dealing with unbelievable loss from wrecks to hurricanes to earthquakes. Instill in each of us the ability to share our love with those experiencing loss as we endeavor to be one in Christ. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Day After Tragedy

Empty tombLent Silent Saturday April 4, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 20:1-18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. — John 20:1-10

On the day after tragedy, those intimately involved are usually still in shock. Trips to graves and tombs, even taking flowers or other mementoes, helps in grasping the truth of what just happened–a truth not wanted. To arrive at the tomb and find the body missing had to have caused great consternation.

On the day after tragedy, memories often flood our minds and our conversations. I remember arriving with a group at the home of one of our friends the evening after his father’s death. After visiting with the family a bit he pulled someone aside and said, “I have to get out of here” and we friends all left in the middle of the night and went to a 24 hour pancake house, drank coffee, and told wonderful stories about my friend’s dad. He was a great guy. At times we laughed so hard we cried. Did Peter and the other disciple believe that the body had been stolen or did they remember and wonder about the times Jesus told them he would rise again?

On the day after tragedy, the lives of all involved are changed forever. We all need to grieve loss, but how we cope, how we pick up the pieces and move forward is a choice. The impact of Jesus’ love, from every day encounters to death on a cross, mattered. The seeds of love he had planted and nurtured in each of his followers mattered.

On this Silent Saturday, let us each contemplate how much God’s love matters to us. Let us remember the acts of God in our lives and through our lives that mattered to us and to others. And let us prepare for the rest of our lives today, for a mighty wind is blowing and the story is not yet over.

Prayer: Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
             Pure and holy, tried and true
            With thanksgiving,
I’ll be a living  Sanctuary for You.* Amen

*From Sanctuary by Vineyard see at http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/v/vineyard/sanctuary.html All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.