Yesterday I felt drained from all the crises of my week, three deaths (see previous blog), a very ill friend in the hospital, another whose husband left her. I knew I needed Holy Spirit help to be able to preach this morning.
Then I got an email asking for prayer for our superintendents and pastors in Haiti, who were at the breaking point from shepherding their people in such pain and grief. Death and disease multiplied many times over what I had experienced this week.
This morning when I didn't want to get out of my comfortable bed to get started, I remembered my Haitian brothers again, and realized they didn't have this problem. They didn't have a bed to get out of, so it was easy to get up in the morning, as soon as the sun peeked under their tarp, they might as well get off the hard concrete and start their day.
When I had trouble turning off the warm soothing shower, I knew they didn't have that problem either, no showers much less warm ones, not even adequate water to drink. So getting ready for church would be much simpler than my experience here.
Our family enjoys backpacking because we like to get out into the wilderness where cars do not intrude, where few humans enjoy that bit of God's creation. But I don't especially like the deprivations of camping, even though we have a nice tent, sleeping bags, pads and soft ground to sleep on. I am always glad to get home to my warm bed and modern bathroom.
In Haiti right now a whole city of people are sleeping on concrete with only tarps to shade the sun, no beds, no adequate protection from rain, no bathroom facilities, not even adequate water to drink. And no end in sight.
Rescue attempts are still focused on basic needs, building new houses remains far in the future.
We must keep praying and supporting our brothers and sisters there, not just when the news is full of the disaster, but in the weeks and years to come. The physical situation alone would drain anyone's energy, much less the great sense of loss for those who didn't survive.
Lord, pour out your grace on Haiti. Keep us alert to their needs. Don't allow our comfort to become complacency.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
You Give and Take Away
Monday the elderly father of one of our church folks died peacefully ending his long life. His daughter and son-in-law were by his bed while he slowly slipped into his eternal rest. He left behind family and friends who dearly loved him but were ready to release him to a fuller life.
That same day the brother of my dear friend ended his life with a bad combination of alcohol and meds, ending his struggles with bipolar disease and alcoholism. He left behind waves of guilt and pain as his family has to ask what they might have done to avoid this outcome.
Wednesday night one of my son's college friends returned to his dorm room after Bible study to find his roommate unconscious on the floor, and his attempts at resuscitation and the subsequent attempts at the hospital could not revive him. He left behind his roommate wishing he had stayed back from Bible study to be there when his roommate needed him, and his parents wondered what could have happened, and many friends missing him.
The elderly man had suffered for years from Alzheimer's, so his death was truly a ticket to healing. It's still sad to lose your dad and grandfather though.
The middle aged man had suffered for years from addiction and mental illness, so his death was also an end to much pain, yet left his family with deep layers of guilt and pain to unravel.
The young man had not been ill, and was not abusing substances, the autopsy will give the last word on what caused his untimely death. His death seems unwarranted, untimely, and unnecessary, leaving behind great grief and a sense of his lost potential.
I don't know if they have orientation in heaven, but if so perhaps these three met up having arrived in close succession. They certainly had different stories to tell of their lives on earth, and different experiences in dying. Yet they have this in common, I'm guessing even the college student wouldn't trade his current setting to return to his dorm room.
That just leaves the rest of us missing them. That leaves us wondering why at different levels. That can even leave those still here questioning how God could allow such.
This has been a week I won't soon forget, and not a good one. But for those three men, if you look at it from their perspective, it's their first week of eternity, and that gives it a whole new twist.
Our church loves to sing Blessed Be Your Name, which borrows words from Job, "You give and take away, blessed be Your name." I have always marveled at Job being able to say that about God taking away his children. However God may take folks to heaven, and we think of it as a subtraction, but for those who arrive in God's presence, it's an addition. They are receiving. And when we allow God to help us with the pain of being left behind, he will take that away too. He truly does give and take away, we just feel a bit mixed up sometimes about the blessing part.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
That same day the brother of my dear friend ended his life with a bad combination of alcohol and meds, ending his struggles with bipolar disease and alcoholism. He left behind waves of guilt and pain as his family has to ask what they might have done to avoid this outcome.
Wednesday night one of my son's college friends returned to his dorm room after Bible study to find his roommate unconscious on the floor, and his attempts at resuscitation and the subsequent attempts at the hospital could not revive him. He left behind his roommate wishing he had stayed back from Bible study to be there when his roommate needed him, and his parents wondered what could have happened, and many friends missing him.
The elderly man had suffered for years from Alzheimer's, so his death was truly a ticket to healing. It's still sad to lose your dad and grandfather though.
The middle aged man had suffered for years from addiction and mental illness, so his death was also an end to much pain, yet left his family with deep layers of guilt and pain to unravel.
The young man had not been ill, and was not abusing substances, the autopsy will give the last word on what caused his untimely death. His death seems unwarranted, untimely, and unnecessary, leaving behind great grief and a sense of his lost potential.
I don't know if they have orientation in heaven, but if so perhaps these three met up having arrived in close succession. They certainly had different stories to tell of their lives on earth, and different experiences in dying. Yet they have this in common, I'm guessing even the college student wouldn't trade his current setting to return to his dorm room.
That just leaves the rest of us missing them. That leaves us wondering why at different levels. That can even leave those still here questioning how God could allow such.
This has been a week I won't soon forget, and not a good one. But for those three men, if you look at it from their perspective, it's their first week of eternity, and that gives it a whole new twist.
Our church loves to sing Blessed Be Your Name, which borrows words from Job, "You give and take away, blessed be Your name." I have always marveled at Job being able to say that about God taking away his children. However God may take folks to heaven, and we think of it as a subtraction, but for those who arrive in God's presence, it's an addition. They are receiving. And when we allow God to help us with the pain of being left behind, he will take that away too. He truly does give and take away, we just feel a bit mixed up sometimes about the blessing part.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Week's Reflection
A week ago I took my son back to college. His older sisters had left already, leaving only his younger brother at home now. I took Luke to campus, we ate together, and it was time for me to leave.
He is attending school in my hometown, and I had trouble leaving. I didn't want to leave him behind, didn't want to drive away from my hometown, and found myself in the local city cemetery where my great uncle was buried. I hadn't even remembered that for years.
I knew if I drove straight home, to an empty house because my husband and last child were at swim practice, I would have felt terribly depressed. So I went directly to a movie instead. I don't remember ever going to a movie theatre alone before, but it worked wonderfully, avoiding the darkness that would have awaited me at home. When I did arrive, my husband and son were already home, the house was full of light and life.
Meanwhile, the greatest tragedy playing out in recent history rocked Haiti. The quake happened about the time I was driving aimlessly around the cemetery. While I was absorbed in my personal woes, my brothers and sisters in Haiti fell beneath the crush of concrete and mortar. I had no idea of their pain as I enjoyed my movie.
Thankfully my strategy worked in keeping me from the slough of despond for the week. And I was able to focus prayers on Haiti and feel compassion for my fallen and wounded and heartsick brothers and sisters.
On Wednesday it seemed my Facebook friends fell into two categories, those with status posts about Haiti, and those with status posts about Pants on the Ground from American Idol.
The truth is, it is far too easy to continue in our complacency while others suffer. Most foreigners were quickly shipped out of Haiti, while the natives remain to deal with the chaos.
I remember previously when the political situation sent everyone foreign from Haiti, and my daughter Junia remarked that the native people had no escape, so why should others leave?
With the needs for basic life necessities right now, what Haiti doesn't need is a large influx of foreigners using up the necessary supplies. But I hope we continue to pray and give, not just for a week, or a month, or even a year, but long term.
New Orleans has still not recovered from Katrina. And this new tragedy has been stated to be 100 times greater in its damage. May we commit ourselves to long term concern and compassion, even though we may continue our daily lives, let us hold onto hope for those in need of such help, for years even, until Haiti is truly healed.
He is attending school in my hometown, and I had trouble leaving. I didn't want to leave him behind, didn't want to drive away from my hometown, and found myself in the local city cemetery where my great uncle was buried. I hadn't even remembered that for years.
I knew if I drove straight home, to an empty house because my husband and last child were at swim practice, I would have felt terribly depressed. So I went directly to a movie instead. I don't remember ever going to a movie theatre alone before, but it worked wonderfully, avoiding the darkness that would have awaited me at home. When I did arrive, my husband and son were already home, the house was full of light and life.
Meanwhile, the greatest tragedy playing out in recent history rocked Haiti. The quake happened about the time I was driving aimlessly around the cemetery. While I was absorbed in my personal woes, my brothers and sisters in Haiti fell beneath the crush of concrete and mortar. I had no idea of their pain as I enjoyed my movie.
Thankfully my strategy worked in keeping me from the slough of despond for the week. And I was able to focus prayers on Haiti and feel compassion for my fallen and wounded and heartsick brothers and sisters.
On Wednesday it seemed my Facebook friends fell into two categories, those with status posts about Haiti, and those with status posts about Pants on the Ground from American Idol.
The truth is, it is far too easy to continue in our complacency while others suffer. Most foreigners were quickly shipped out of Haiti, while the natives remain to deal with the chaos.
I remember previously when the political situation sent everyone foreign from Haiti, and my daughter Junia remarked that the native people had no escape, so why should others leave?
With the needs for basic life necessities right now, what Haiti doesn't need is a large influx of foreigners using up the necessary supplies. But I hope we continue to pray and give, not just for a week, or a month, or even a year, but long term.
New Orleans has still not recovered from Katrina. And this new tragedy has been stated to be 100 times greater in its damage. May we commit ourselves to long term concern and compassion, even though we may continue our daily lives, let us hold onto hope for those in need of such help, for years even, until Haiti is truly healed.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Death of the Innocents
Last Sunday, January 10, I preached on a passage I have always avoided, the murder of the innocents, Matthew 2:13-18. God sends an angel to warn Joseph to get Jesus out of town to escape Herod. Why couldn't God warn all the other fathers of boys two and under? Why did they have to die?
I just finished reading Randy Alcorn's book Is God Good? Alcorn does a good job dealing with the hard questions of faith. I appreciate his honesty about the dilemmas people struggle with related to suffering and pain and death.
I can't say why God didn't warn those families to save their sons. But I do understand why he did warn Joseph. He had a bigger plan, and Jesus needed to live past two to accomplish it. He didn't really spare Jesus, who had to be beaten and hung on a cross, becoming sin for us, suffering separation from the heavenly Father. He didn't spare Mary who instead of losing her two-year-old son in a swift murder saw her 30-something-year-old die slowly amidst taunts. But God made sure that the master plan worked, that Jesus lived past two so he could die at the right moment, a death that meant something.
And why did Haiti have to crumble to its foundations on January 12? Why are so many buried beneath the rubble, innocent children of all ages, faithful followers, diligent workers, those with much left to accomplish for the Kingdom?
I don't know that either. But I am confident that God is where He always is when crises happen, with those who are hurting. Strengthening those digging through the rubble. Holding the hand of those still trapped awaiting rescue. And resurrecting those who will no longer call this earth home.
And I am grateful God preserved the two-year-old Jesus to complete the plan. Despite the despair that pervades Haiti right now, that nation too can rise in hope. Let us pray and give to be sure that is so.
Check out helphaitiheal.org for updates and a way to give that goes 100% to the need.
I just finished reading Randy Alcorn's book Is God Good? Alcorn does a good job dealing with the hard questions of faith. I appreciate his honesty about the dilemmas people struggle with related to suffering and pain and death.
I can't say why God didn't warn those families to save their sons. But I do understand why he did warn Joseph. He had a bigger plan, and Jesus needed to live past two to accomplish it. He didn't really spare Jesus, who had to be beaten and hung on a cross, becoming sin for us, suffering separation from the heavenly Father. He didn't spare Mary who instead of losing her two-year-old son in a swift murder saw her 30-something-year-old die slowly amidst taunts. But God made sure that the master plan worked, that Jesus lived past two so he could die at the right moment, a death that meant something.
And why did Haiti have to crumble to its foundations on January 12? Why are so many buried beneath the rubble, innocent children of all ages, faithful followers, diligent workers, those with much left to accomplish for the Kingdom?
I don't know that either. But I am confident that God is where He always is when crises happen, with those who are hurting. Strengthening those digging through the rubble. Holding the hand of those still trapped awaiting rescue. And resurrecting those who will no longer call this earth home.
And I am grateful God preserved the two-year-old Jesus to complete the plan. Despite the despair that pervades Haiti right now, that nation too can rise in hope. Let us pray and give to be sure that is so.
Check out helphaitiheal.org for updates and a way to give that goes 100% to the need.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Silence
My voice is missing. I have had this problem before. Another time it was also Christmas. I had to do a wedding. Roger helped me with it. During the sermon, my voice got stronger and stronger. The wedding couple called it the miracle of the voice.
Another time was right after Easter. I remember visiting my dad and he was SO annoyed that I couldn't talk to him. He was such an extrovert and it drove him crazy that I couldn't talk.
My kids were young then and driving in the van was the biggest challenge, trying to communicate to people behind me with no voice while driving.
Every time I lose my voice I learn something about silence. It truly is golden. It doesn't bother me too much not to talk, as an introvert I rather enjoy the opportunity to be quiet. However it does make me value communication.
I learn how many things don't need to be said. When you have to strain to talk or write it down or text it, you realize how many things can just be left unsaid, only the valuable things are worth all that effort. That's a lesson that can carry over to full-voiced moments.
I was supposed to lead a meeting today that typically involves a lot of teaching from me. But everyone had read a book this time, so it was easy for Roger to facilitate. God provided. For tomorrow at church I had already planned instead of a sermon to have a Wesley Covenant service and communion. I delegated leading those. God provided again.
My family is always relieved when I can talk again. It is frustrating not to be able to call my daughters and talk on the phone. But meanwhile, I pray I learn a bit more about the value of silence. And that when my voice does return, I will use it wisely.
Another time was right after Easter. I remember visiting my dad and he was SO annoyed that I couldn't talk to him. He was such an extrovert and it drove him crazy that I couldn't talk.
My kids were young then and driving in the van was the biggest challenge, trying to communicate to people behind me with no voice while driving.
Every time I lose my voice I learn something about silence. It truly is golden. It doesn't bother me too much not to talk, as an introvert I rather enjoy the opportunity to be quiet. However it does make me value communication.
I learn how many things don't need to be said. When you have to strain to talk or write it down or text it, you realize how many things can just be left unsaid, only the valuable things are worth all that effort. That's a lesson that can carry over to full-voiced moments.
I was supposed to lead a meeting today that typically involves a lot of teaching from me. But everyone had read a book this time, so it was easy for Roger to facilitate. God provided. For tomorrow at church I had already planned instead of a sermon to have a Wesley Covenant service and communion. I delegated leading those. God provided again.
My family is always relieved when I can talk again. It is frustrating not to be able to call my daughters and talk on the phone. But meanwhile, I pray I learn a bit more about the value of silence. And that when my voice does return, I will use it wisely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
