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Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Let's pick up some with where last night concluded.  I realize it sounds as if there was an abrupt ending.  That is exactly what it is.  Time ran out on me.  It also is a factor that such a post could go on forever.  Here is what made me think of the idea over the last few days.  Perhaps you read of a young actor who died recently in a fiery car accident.  What you maybe did not notice was the public memorial at the site of the crash.  One of the signs lamented the common refrain of why do only the good die young.  However honest such a question can be it also betrays a shallow view of this life.  I would like to think my basic character is good yet I am still here.  Old age is not a promised reward for living on the level of good.  Life and death is our constant reality where neither comes with an expiration date.

Obviously, much of my job takes me to cemeteries on a regular basis.  Now it is true that many of those occasions revolve around those who did live a long life.  But that is not always the case.  Some die far too tragically at much too young of an age.  We tend to wander around in this world with the concept that we are invincible.  We shouldn't obsess over death but neither is it a topic to avoid.  Perhaps only those who come to grip with the fragility of living understand how to make it count.  Maybe those who approach life with an eternal perspective can make their earthly journey one to remember.

This can be especially true during the holidays.  There is nothing like this time of the year to send us into a tailspin of depression.  Our minds drift to those we are now without.  I tell my congregation every year to remember those who may be facing grief due to their losses.  It may start to sound trite but it matters.  Simply asking the question of why things happen will not guarantee a healthy outlook.  I do wish there was a simple answer in each case.  My world would be far easier if that were so.  God just refuses to operate this way.  To live by faith means being awfully real with Him in the most trying times we have.  Settling for superficial answers just will not cut it during such times.  We tend to forget that answers will not fill the void left by a loss. 

God offers comfort, guidance, and enduring grace above and beyond any answer.  His tendency is to move us to fresh maturity while we struggle along.  Scripture becomes a source of truth to remind us we are still alive.  One bad habit we have is when we try to find some message that insures our safety.  Brokenness tends to strip away our illusions so we are capable of knowing Him.  We are able to move from just trying to feel better to seriously wanting to find God.  Pain is a given in our world while suffering may be optional.  We are not required to play the victim to our conditions.  God would want us to get how big He really is compared to our situations.  He would want to bless us in incredible fashion when our world wants to break us.  Selfish desire to just ease the pain leads us away from His truest purposes. 

My guess is we should spend at least one more blog post on all of this.  I also need to stop and reflect on what is being said.  Just be sure there is far more to your present destination than what you may see around you.  To know that is to begin to find real hope.

Bro. Trey