When Friends Pass

We have seen 4 friends say their farewells to this earth in the past month. John, Ron, Peggy, and today Bob. Some were long ago friends we haven't seen for a long time. Still their passing brought them to mind as though we had chatted only yesterday. Bob was a new friend not yet well known but definitely fun to be around.

I have been searching for ways to connect with their going home to Jesus and the grief that stays behind even though we who hope in the Lord know we will see them again. There is the grief of knowing this time the business trip, the job move, the long-term vacation is extended and we do not know when we will see them again; we can't pick up a phone just to hear their voice.

Each in their way showed us a glimpse of their strong faith, their peace with being called home, and their surety they will be waiting to welcome us when we join them. Talk about a "come as you are party". In addition, there will be that first glimpse of Jesus that no painting has truly captured.

The news has been sad -- a 10 year old boy found in the river not because he fell or slipped or was playing where he shouldn't be. He was in the river because some adult was feeling mean. Terrorists think they can stop people from living just because they want to. Alcohol and drugs take minds and lives, and ruin families. Something is going all awry between perpetrators who think they can do what they want. Several police officers who should be symbols of safety to children and victims have turned and become their own kind of goon misusing power.

While all this was hurting and churning inside, I came home from an outing and discovered my husband had taken the time to post of Facebook a picture of what it is all about. He asked me to read for spelling or grammar issues. He had no idea he was an instrument of God to give me some peace.

The issue is not the death, nor meanness, nor pain of it all. The issue is God. We are not puppets, we choose to do hurtful things and death exists until Christ's return. But there is always God to ease the pain, comfort the grieving, and counsel us to know, to wait, He will come soon.