Faith, Hope, Love and Purpose

Over the past months I have had occasion to read many stories of other parents about the loss of a child and about life, such as it is, following such a loss.  Not surprisingly, I seem to gravitate mostly to stories of young people (usually in their late teens or twenties) who obviously left this world far to early.  The contexts are varied -- from homicide to suicide, a drug overdose to a car accident, or health issues -- both expected and unexpected.  But, the heartbreak is always the same.

I have corresponded with some of those parent-writers through email, and I recently learned that a woman who wrote one of these blogs took her own life earlier this month.  It is difficult to comprehend, as her daughter had done the same thing a couple of years ago and this women therefore knew quite clearly the devastating impact her decision would have on the survivors in her family.  In fact, this woman had written a book about her experience, and I am sure that many parents found her writing to be a source of hope and inspiration.  Yet, somehow, for some reason, her pain became too great.  And, in a one irretrievable moment she made her escape.

 

Nearly eight months into our own journey and I still wonder what separates those who successfully navigate the loss of a child from those who do not.  What common denominator, if there is one, allows some people to return to productive and facially normal lives, while others never seem to escape the torment sufficiently to function even outwardly?

 

Speaking only for myself, I would say that my desire to do more than merely survive comes from the realization that my family still needs me and that God does not seem finished with me just yet.  Judge me if you wish, but without these things -- and particularly without faith -- I can easily understand why someone would see escaping the pain as a viable option. 

 

With faith, of course, comes hope.  There is the hope of one day understanding how God in his infinite wisdom can take even this horrific circumstance and use it to work out his divine purpose.  Even better, is the hope and promise that our family will be reunited some day.  And then there is love.

 

True Christian faith also means a love of God and a love of other people.  It means loving God enough to tell others about him no matter what else is going on in our lives.  It means trusting God enough to be content in good circumstances and in bad.  It means keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and on the mission.

 

To me, living a life that is about more than surviving requires that we stay focused on our purpose.  And, our purpose is really pretty simple.

 

Love God -- Love People -- Advance the Gospel.

 

 

Radical Continued

I know my posting on this blog has fallen off in recent months, and that when I have posted my writing has been dominated by thoughts about life after Jonathan's passing.  It is an inescapable fact that the events of that horrific February night will forever color my view of life, and my view of God for that matter. 

Our family continues in the struggle to find our footing in a new world that is so unlike the world we once knew.  The Bible tells us that we are foreigners and temporary visitors in this world (1 Peter 2:11-12) and never has that seemed more true.

I continue to find some solace in what I can only describe as God's manifest presence in my life.  I praise God for the work I see him doing in so many lives, including my own.

Yet, there is also an uneasiness apart from the tragedy of this year that I cannot seem to escape.  Part of that uneasiness comes, I am sure, simply from the fact that when God begins to move there is always resistance.

But it also comes from the reality that at times ministry can be discouraging.  There are times when I wonder whether anything that is happening is making a real difference.  Other times I feel like I am swimming upstream, trying to make headway against sometimes unexpected currents.

Personally, I am increasingly uneasy about my own failure to reach more people with the message of the gospel.  As my sense of the fragile and temporary nature of the life has become more vivid, my sense of the urgency to tell people about Jesus has also become more clear.

The other day I met my friend Bob for coffee at a local Starbucks where Bob frequently hangs out.  It was morning and the place was fairly busy. Bob seemed to know everyone who worked there by name.  Even more surprising, Bob seemed to know at least half of the people coming and going by name.

A number of people stopped by our table to say hello, and when each person left Bob would usually tell me a little bit about what was going on in that person's life.  Bob always had a smile and an encouraging word, despite the fact that Bob is going through some pretty difficult things in his own life.

I am sure that Bob likes Starbucks coffee. But, that is not why he hangs out there most days. Bob is there because he loves Jesus, and because he wants to give as many other people as he can the chance to love Jesus too.

Interestingly, yesterday morning our men's Bible study was all about our individual responsibility and the urgent need to share the gospel. I guess that means that I am not the only one feeling this uneasiness or spiritual discontentment right now. Thank you Lord.  We are listening, now help us to put your words in action.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
                                                                                                       Matthew 28:16-20