Gary Crawford In Life, In Death, In Life Beyond Death, We Are Not AloneI was going to limit myself to a reminder that you get to stay in bed an hour longer tonight thanks to the time change. The Junior Choir parents amongst my readers will be happy. I received what is below as yesterday's Sound Bites thought for the day and it struck me as fitting after some of the things I mused about earlier in the week.
RESURRECTION FAITH
God does not cheapen Himself or us by offering us easy answers to the anguished, "Why?" that we who are human cannot help but ask. The mystery of life and death and suffering remains a mystery in all human generations, and it is no less a mystery for us. We don't get a quick fix from our faith.
But we do encounter a God who sits patiently beside us in grief, usually silently, like an orthodox Jew sitting shivah with his bereaved friend, offering no words to explain away a mystery that is beyond words. God sits with us in our sorrow. In the days and weeks after a loss, as we sit together in the silence, something new begins to creep into our consciousness. The faith that has sustained our whole lives will begin to knot our sorrow over this death together with what we believe about the life to come. Faith and experience will knit together like a broken bone knits together as time passes. We begin to be able to see for ourselves what is already a reality for those who have gone on ahead of us, something the tears of early bereavement make it hard for us to see at first. They begin to appear in our vision of heaven, taking their place in the communion of the saints. We begin to feel their presence, not just their absence. Once again, the resurrection faith to which we cling gently bathes our hearts, and our hearts are healed.
-- Bishop Edmund Lee Browning from "A Year of Days with the Book of Common Prayer"
God does not cheapen Himself or us by offering us easy answers to the anguished, "Why?" that we who are human cannot help but ask. The mystery of life and death and suffering remains a mystery in all human generations, and it is no less a mystery for us. We don't get a quick fix from our faith.
But we do encounter a God who sits patiently beside us in grief, usually silently, like an orthodox Jew sitting shivah with his bereaved friend, offering no words to explain away a mystery that is beyond words. God sits with us in our sorrow. In the days and weeks after a loss, as we sit together in the silence, something new begins to creep into our consciousness. The faith that has sustained our whole lives will begin to knot our sorrow over this death together with what we believe about the life to come. Faith and experience will knit together like a broken bone knits together as time passes. We begin to be able to see for ourselves what is already a reality for those who have gone on ahead of us, something the tears of early bereavement make it hard for us to see at first. They begin to appear in our vision of heaven, taking their place in the communion of the saints. We begin to feel their presence, not just their absence. Once again, the resurrection faith to which we cling gently bathes our hearts, and our hearts are healed.
-- Bishop Edmund Lee Browning from "A Year of Days with the Book of Common Prayer"
God not "cheapen(ing)" himself with easy answers is a huge factor in why so many people have either left the church or don't approach it in the first place, I'd reckon.
ReplyDeleteIt's afterall a fundamental paradox that a just and merciful God allows suffering and injustice to happen to the innocent, and then still expects us to believe in His righteousness.
This is lynchpin in my periodic struggle with doubt, and I'd also reckon I'm not alone on this one.
I often find myself at a loss for words when it comes to the unfairness of life. The caretaker of our church is dying. They have discovered that she has cancer all throughout her body and there is nothing they can do for her. She is only 58 years old.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of people shaking their heads with tears in their eyes wondering why this is happening. They ask: When we pray, for what are we praying? When we visit, what do we say? How do we comfort the family?
I just continue to listen, offer hugs, and whisper the assurance that we are there if needed and that we are praying for whatever is needed at this time. I offered a healing service the other night to which only three people came (it was our first one), but those three (four with our musician) really appreciated what was offered, the music, the silence, and the ritual of annointing and laying on of hands.
Thanks David for the time change reminder. Saskatchewan does not change time, but it means Ontario will only be an hour ahead of us, instead of two.
Agreed Ian. That first phrase caught my attention and the whole quote was so authentic in my estimation.
ReplyDeleteWe too are watching members in life and death struggles right now Deb. It is painful, and maintaining hope can be difficult. I'm sure your service was meaningful for the participants.