Easter People

Last month, a young man growing up in our community was murdered while living in Austrailia.  He has been brought back to be buried here this weekend.  I did not know him, nor do I know his family, but his death has touched many who live here.  We can all feel the horror of so violent a death, and our hearts go out to a mother and father who must bury their son, family who will surely miss their loved one, and extended friends who will agonize over the senselessness of so tragic an end. 

Young people are not supposed to die.  They are supposed to outlive their elders, to live on to have children and grandchildren of their own.  And no one should have such an ugly death.  At times like this we cry out to God, "Why?  What good can come of this?"  We feel that if we just know God's intentions we could accept, and it would be easier to bear.  It won't be.  What we are really asking is, "How?  How can I trust you again, Lord?  How could you do this to me?  How will I ever live through this?"  It is all too human.  We focus on the agony that this death brings us, and it scares us.  This too, is all too human and understandable.

But, we forget that our God lost a son too, and he is familiar with and shares our grief.  And while we think that our grief is too much to take, He carries the greater portion of the load on our behalf.  He sent us a Saviour, and a Consoler. After a time, our grief is assuaged, and we begin to notice the angels and helpers He has sent to guide us through the darkness of our loss.  We are an Easter people....we believe in sun after the storm, dawn after the dark night, and resurrection after death.  We cannot live in hopelessness forever.  We live out our resurrection in many ways.....by believing that though evil things happen in this world, the world is not evil, that there are more good people than bad, and that though sadness may once again enter our lives someday, goodness and happiness will be present as well. 

I pray that comfort comes to this family, and for eternal rest for all who have entered the next life unexpectedly.