Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Thinking outside the box (no, really!)

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I was deep in thought as I moved down the hallway.

I was deep in thought when I pressed the button for the elevator.

I was deep in thought when the door closed.

I was deep in thought as I waited . . .

. . . and waited . . .

. . . and waited . . .

. . . and waited . . .

I was deep in thought when I looked for the door to open.

I was deep in though when my foot moved forward . . .

. . . and the door did not open.

My thoughts vaporized as I stood there, looking at the closed door.

My thoughts swirled as I noted how this elevator ride was different than other elevator rides:

I did not sense the slight push of my feet against the floor.

I had not heard the whirr of the motors and cables as I moved through the walls of the building.

I had not felt the clunk of the box settling in place.

I must have been deep in thought.

Real deep.

So deep that I had to discover that I had not moved! I had not pushed the button!

The lesson came home to me quickly: I have enough irons in the fire to keep me busy until doomsday, but if I have not love for God first in all things, then nothing matters. I’ve not been moved.

Sure I could have stayed in the box until someone else came along and pushed a button. I could have also been more embarrassed to be discovered by someone and talked about as the guy who didn’t know how to operate an elevator. Someone might already say my own elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top.

But that’s how it is. In all the distractions and cares of the world, I can stand there in my box and think I am going someplace, making a difference. The reality is, I am just standing still, embraced by four walls, a ceiling and a floor.

I can stand there until someone else comes along . . . but when will someone come?
Will it be in time?

And who will it be that comes along?

And what will they do when they come?

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.“ (Ro 5:6-9)

Thank you, Jesus.

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