And Death Shall Be No More, Death, Thou Shalt Die

This phrase is the ending line to a poem by John Donne that is one of my favorites and also the meditative thought flowing through the movie "Wit" starring Emma Thompson. During Eastertide, a season of the liturgical year I usually pay no mind to, I have been reflecting on resurrection and the death of death quite a bit. Easter this year has renewed significance. The death of a close friend makes the resurrection of the dead not just a far off thought, but an earnest hope and longed for reality. I have to believe that Christ really did rise from the dead and that through faith in him those who believe will also be resurrected.

I first sat down to write this blog the Monday after Easter. Life got in the way and I lost the words that had weighed so heavily on my mind as I sat in chapel that Monday morning and rejoiced in the truth and hope of the resurrection. Many things have happened since that Easter Monday. Eastertide is nearing its end and I am forced to reflect on another tragedy. This one is close to home in a different way than Lee's death. A member of my home church, husband of one of my high school leaders and mentors, father of children I grew up with and at one time or another called friend, was involved in a murder-suicide about 24 hours ago. A man, in whose house I spent a good amount of time my freshman and sophomore years of high school, snapped and shot both of his in-laws before killing himself hours later. His father-in-law died right away. His mother-in-law was airlifted to a hospital in Seattle where she later died. Such a tragic event causes one to think about what pushes a seemingly gentle and quiet man to the point of murder. As I mourn and grieve for and with the family, I have to believe in the power of the resurrection. I have to believe in the restoration and reconciliation that was accomplished in and through Jesus Christ. Without such a foundation, events such as these are completely meaningless and I am lost. I cannot even begin to fathom the pain and confusion that the family must be experiencing. My heart aches for them. I can only hope and pray that God comforts them in this very difficult time.

I also hope and pray that my year begins to become more boring soon. Too much has happened this year for my liking. I can't handle this much tragedy and heartache. It is hard for me to trust that God is only giving me what I can bear, because I don't really feel like I can bear any of this. I guess that's just it, isn't it? He gives us what we can bear, but we need his help to bear it. While I wrestle with yet another tragic event, I look to the truth in the words, "Death, thou shalt die." This is my hope and comfort. God has won the victory and in him I trust.