A Week of Tragedy

This week has been one of tragedy around my family. Not within my family, just around it. Sunday evening the grandfather of a young man that attends the church I pastor passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. The young man, his wife, and child are in Florida to be with family and attend the funeral. That same evening a young man that attends Jackson High School with my oldest son, lost his mom. Tuesday, my son's favorite teacher, along with her husband who is also a teacher, lost their home to a fire...everything was destroyed. Wednesday morning, a former pastor of Stark United Methodist Church, passed away suddenly leaving behind two beautiful daughters and a son. One of those daughters attends Jackson High School with my oldest (I suspect he has, at minimum, a crush on the young lady) and she is sure to be devastated. Cade, the oldest of my two sons, said to me yesterday, "This week is one of the worst weeks ever, one friend's mom died Sunday night, Mrs. Braswell's house burned down, and now Mr. Drake passed away, and it is only Wednesday...the week isn't even over yet." I watched his face and understood that he was feeling pain for those that were in the middle of tragedy and my eyes teared up. Welcome to my world, son. I am proud of you for feeling for others.

Additionally, earlier this week, a precious 4-year old boy, whose family lives locally, was killed in an automobile accident as well...what does one say?

A friend of mine blogged, I Don't Know. Here, http://www.jasonlsanders.com/2013/01/31/i-dont-know-why/ , take a look at that. He does an excellent job with this piece. One of my favorite preacher/teachers has this to say...

 

 



about bad things happening in the world and to good people. It is quite sobering, actually, to place everything in its proper context. To my son I have this to say,

"Buddy, it makes you stop and think doesn't it? We never know how long we have, and we do not know how long others have. You claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, so offer yourself to help those who are hurting. Take the time to offer yourself to others before they hurt in these ways again, so they may know where to turn the next time -  because there will be a next time. It is how it is in this world. Take time now to grow your relationship with God, cultivate it, nourish it, be consumed with it, because growing closer to Him, and learning what it means to abide in Him, fulfills the Great Command (to love God with everything you are and your neighbor as yourself) and in fulfilling the Great Command, we can not help but fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them). Rest in the fact that we are not so important that we have to know the reasons why, but we know the One who does. Rest in the fact that God is truly Sovereign, and He is the only One that needs to know everything, and He is the One that saves us, builds us into what He desires, and restores us. He is the One who firmly plant us in His courtyard Psalms 92:13 , by the streams of water Psalms 1:3 , and keeps us for Himself Jude 1:1. Rest in Him now! Don't wait! Love Him with fierceness, and through Him love others in like manner. You don't have to have all the answers, but be there for others who may need help in a time of need to find the One who does have the answers, and be brought to the realization that they to don't have to know why, just know the One who does."

It is only Thursday. Bad things happen, and beyond all the easy, pat answers, I don't know why. It is not my place to know, God is the Sovereign One, and He is my Father. I rest in that, because in Him and Him alone, is where we find rest.