And there they stood. Racked with grief that had placed them wanting an answer but refusing to truly embrace the truth, because the truth would not fix or reverse the catastrophe. Agonizing truth ... Unfair truth ... Cruel truth ... Is never a welcome guest and always a terribly abusive tenant.
Loss to the appearance of Thanatos (the separation that we call "death") is a heart ripping and gripping intrusion in our lives. When a life is snatched away and the "breath" is gone, the stillness of that moment is terrifyingly surreal beyond explanation. When looking down into the satin lined, highly polished "box at the end of dreams" , many of us tremble to the point where we strongly desire to lose control so as to run far, far, far away and keep running until... we are out of the reach of death's final squeeze. Our minds will always desire for a transport away... If only we could gain enough distance from death, that the realm of the breathless would not affect us and the virus of age could be staved off long enough that we could accomplish a full escape and leave nothing unattained.
I know they are gathering today, I can't be there. There is no box; only a memorial moment where words will be exchanged in love, to try to remember. We will pull at fading straw to pump up an imagined "good times" image of the "missing one" to attempt to make us all feel better about this "something" that we all truly fear, especially for ourselves (but for the Christ Factor). We will strive to be in the midst of the memorial with hopes that we can add comfort or at least increase those attending our future memorial (it is hard to face the truth of our own selfishness). Truly, None of us want to be left alone even at death and after.
I truly hate what can happen to the little ones who cannot find a way through the grief. This is why "Death and Hell", in the future present of God's plans, are cast into the Lake of Fire ... Never to have an affect on creation ever again.
AGAIN! I truly hate what can happen to the little ones --- BUT this is not a feeling I own, it has come to own me.
In trusting Christ to Save us -- We have realized that death, though sorrowful to others, has no power over us - "absent from the body, present with the LORD." He holds us. Psalm 23:4 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
In walking with Him daily - HE REVIVES ME - HE MAKES ME FULLY ALIVE FOR OTHERS. --- Psalm 138:7 - "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, though wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies; and Thy Right Hand shall save me."
What a gift God has given us ... As we allow the Spirit to energize and vitalize the Word we receive daily --- WE, through HIM, become LIFE GIVERS. Please let this soak your soul ... Re-read the passages above, bow your heart under His awesome care for the little ones and allow Him to "fold" you into the pleats of His manifold wisdom. LIVE TRULY ALIVE - BECOME A LIFE GIVING VESSEL.
Hearing the heart of the grief always stirs my soul -- below was one of those responses:
"Reading this...my heart is on its knees, my soul is on its face... my Spirit soars with His because I know that He is touched by the feelings you cannot express. He can handle the blame, the disappointment, the depression, the anger, the loss of faith, the chill from the loss of reciprocative love... keep grieving without shame in the arms of the Father. He is never disappointed with our pained response to earth shattering loss, that is why He is our God and we are His beloved.
Hope In Christ; remember that the "Highly Polished Satin Lined Box" -- is nothing more than a "Hope Chest".
COME ALIVE KIDS OF THE KING - The Little Ones need us,
HLFA,
Jeff