I'm not sure where I'm going with this but it's pretty much a discussion with God about death, especially the death of young people. I call it a discussion because I have an expectation that God will answer me eventually.
I feel sad, mad, angry, defeated and a host of other negative emotions when I hear about a young person who died. Yesterday I received news that my friend's son had died. He was only 32 yrs. old and died from cancer. He was a great guy He was a Husband, Coach, Son, Friend, Mentor and many other things. HE WAS A GREAT GUY! So why do some great young people die young? Why God?
I know that you have a purpose and a plan for all of us but sometimes your plans hurt. I have watched young people die and get hurt a lot. Sometimes a young boy with a bullet in his head. Sometimes a child is battered and abused by an adult. Many young people in our City have died way too young. I do know that death and disease and depression have a way of turning people to you God. I understand that. I understand that as kind of like being a burning bush to get my attention so that I focus on you. Sometimes I feel like some people and families are continually the burning bush. I know we have choices and you gave us a free will but I still hurt. I do trust you and I want to be closer to you but I hurt.
I believe my friends son is sitting with his head resting against your shoulder as you recount all of the ways that he loved on people. I am happy for him. He doesn't have. nor will he ever experience any pain ever again. I am grateful that you touched my life through his. I going to just believe that you used him to touch more people with life giving healing by his death than I could ever conceive or imagine. Yeah, I know we all have a purpose. I'm just believing that in the big picture that you have shown love in a greater way by pouring your love into Justin so he could share you in a greater way with everyone who knew him.
His short life of 32 years was an explosion of love. I'm going to focus on the love you shared with us through Justin and focus on trying to share your love in greater ways. Could you put your fingertips underneath the hearts of his family members. Please let them know that you won't let them sink any deeper. I trust you God, I trust that your love will live on through the legacy of loving others "The Justin Kunick Way."
In Jesus Name. Amen.
I met today with a man of God, who along with his wife served God together for 42 years. They went together "like peas and carrots"(thank you Forrest...Forrest Gump) . We met because my friend called me and said" I'm pissed off at God". I replied" let's meet and you can tell me about your anger. "
ReplyDeleteI thank God that He has taught me to listen better over these last few years. Listening is an aquired skill for it involves more than merely using your ears. Your eyes can listen. Most importantly your heart can listen. It involves disconnecting the tongue for some time .
So my friend, full of passion, emotion and faced drenched tears said these words" I am really pissed at God. All we were praying for as my wife slowly died from cancer was a little more time.. a few more months.. a year maybe. But NO !!! This God whom we served for all of these years could not grant our heart's desire. I mean what's a month to Him ? or a year? He could have her for eternity..could He not let me have her for just a little while longer ? "
He continued on and I listened... nodding occassionally in agreement with His assessment of the "unfairness of it all"
And then it happened.. as I began to agree that life was unfair,maybe even God was unfair , my friend began to defend God.The Word that he had studied for so very long ,daily with his now departed wife came alive in his soul . Quote after quote flowed so beautifully from his lips. Sweet nectar for a hurting,hungry soul. I too began to tear up as I heard the Word that comforts do just that. the Word that reassures was assuring him. the promises spoken therein were there for him and he was claiming them.
Yes , quoting his own words " I feel as though half of me was ripped away by some great white shark " is still his new reality, his new normal, God gently, lovingly wrapped His comforting arms around my friend.
I thank God for His word. I thank God for teaching me to listen with more than my ears. I thank God that I was available to once again witness the unending love of the One , the only One, who knows me ,knows my friend better than we know ourselves . He knows what we need ,when we need it and stretches out His heart to love on us.
I ramble but I know your heart Bob.. it mimics the Master's heart . And so He calls to us " keep on my sons... keep on. never tire in your work for I am coming soon and it will all be as it was always meant to be. Soon my boys..soon.
L'shalom
Ken Metzger