I am overwhelmed by the presence of death. Last year at this time I was sitting with a friend, wrestling with the reality that his sister has passed suddenly. There were no words that could take away the sting. Nothing I could do would change the reality that she was gone. Yes, we shared a hope of seeing her again, but we were stuck in the present. A year on, with the activities to remember and build on her legacy, it still hurts.
I woke this morning to the news that a friend and colleague had passed away suddenly and without warning. I will always remember his athleticism, enthusiasm for life, and his enduring love for his daughter. Most of all I will remember his smile and laugh. I cannot imagine the pain that his wife, daughter, and extended family are going though. Yes, we share a hope of seeing him again, but we are stuck in the present.
At times like this I would be inhuman if I suggested everything was rosy. Life is anything but rosy. Life is messy, chaotic, and painful. Often it taunts one as we try to describe the moment at hand. Yet, I look out and see the trees gently moving on a warm tropical morning. In my mind’s eye, I can see beauty and wonder, I can hear music that takes me to a sweet place of hope. As I face the Evil that would drag me down, I resolutely look beyond, calling to the God of Compassion, Mercy, and Love, “We will never turn our back on you; breathe life into our lungs so we can shout your name!” (Psalm 80.18)
Life does not need to be defined by Evil. Life can be defined by our expressions of beauty, kindness, and walking together in a loving embrace. We have an opportunity today to be more than we were. We can reach for a better place through our choices and decisions.
Resolution is rarely easy. It demands everything within us. In case you were wondering, I am all in.
