Celebrating and sorrowing: goodbye to Diane

This weekend we'll celebrate the life of Diane, a dear friend as well as a respected colleague. She fell in a hiking accident last Saturday and walked through the eternal doorway into the presence of Jesus.

We've been sharing sorrow and sympathy, grief-stricken words exchanged among her friends. How she will be missed! We won't see her here again - but the hope of eternal life with our Lord comforts us. We'll meet in heaven when our own days are through.

The way we think about milestones like death reveals much about our life with Jesus. Here's what Diane taught me:

1. Christ is worthy of our adoration. Diane, four other women, and I had committed to a year-long journey of spiritual disciplines. Each week we'd read, think, and pray together to focus our attention on God's ways. Diane's responses demonstrated her life of worship and her longing to love God more.
2. Christ is worthy of our attention. Diane took time to write about her disciplines of faith. Some weeks I was convicted by the depth of her devotion; she understood that God demanded all of her attention and efforts.
3. We work while we can. Diane was a hard worker who was the liaison for people, relationships, and information. When her work was done - though she didn't know the end was near - God called her home.
4. Everything secret becomes known. One of Diane's friends had to go through her apartment. She found Diane's Bible open on her desk. What would someone find on mine? On yours?
5. Not one day can be shortened or added to what God gives us. Comments about Diane's death range from "tragic" to "cut short" to "awful." These describe only our side of the story. Diane lived her life to the full. She accomplished what she was born to do. She was a gift to us for a certain number of days. When those days had passed, she went Home to her reward.
6. Great joy awaits those who live for Jesus. Since attending my first memorial service, I've had the same initial response at hearing of the death of a Christian. Envy. A holy jealousy takes my breath away. To think that someone who has believed in Jesus now gets to be near Him! What joy. What bliss. What a future!
   
   I was probably five years old, at the first funeral I can remember. Grandma stood, heaving with great sobs beside me.
   
   "Why are you crying, Grandma?" I asked her, looking up through childhood tears.
   
   "Oh child! Think of Mrs. S, gone to be with our Savior. How sad we are, because we still must wait to see the glory she is experiencing!" Grandma described perfectly what I was feeling. We longed to be in heaven with Jesus. Those emotions continue to be my first response to the death of a Christian. Longing. Rejoicing. Awe.
   
   Think of it! This is what Diane knows: the Presence. The Friendship. The Power of the cross. God's enveloping Love. Blessed freedom to be completely whole and content, encompassed by God's perfection. Wow! Doesn't that take your breath away in anticipation, too?

"Redeemed how I love to proclaim it,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed by his infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am..."

The old hymn reminds us that death is a doorway into a glorious future. We live each day here to the full so that we have no regrets when we see our Lord. We strain forward in anticipation to the day when life here ends and eternal life begins.

Diane's end was sudden, unexpected, and quick. Many of us will suffer illness and lingering goodbyes before we see what she is seeing. Before we know what she knows.

Being human means we are born and we die. Mixed with my feeling of missing this dear one, with feelings of sadness that she and I may never visit and chat here in person, I feel wonder and excitement for her ... and for all of us who believe. Some day this is our privilege and destiny, too. "How marvelous! How wonderful! And our song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful is the Savior's love for me."

THIS living in the Presence is her reward. Surely not one of us would call her back from the beauty, peace, and love that surround her forever more.

How do you feel about death and dying? Have you fixed your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith?

Read more:
*Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. Psalm 84:5 NIV

*Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22-26 NIV

*But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrata, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESV

*When Jesus was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed." Luke 7:6-7 ESV

*To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! Revelation 2:8-9 (NIV)

Moravian Prayer: Heavenly Comforter, plant in our hearts the willingness to care for your children as you are continually caring for us. As we navigate the difficult times of our lives, give us strength to show your love always.

As we count our blessings, let us remember that there are many among your children who have yet to realize that you walk with all of us and carry us in your arms when we can no longer carry ourselves. Help us to show the light of your promise and support today. In the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.

Lent Day 32: Death work, just in time

One of our friends is walking her dad through his funeral program. They're not anticipating the actual day of his death of course, but they're discussing how his memorial celebration will be carried out. What a gift her father is leaving his family.

Scripture tells us to number our days. That life has limits. A dear friend is dying of cancer. Soon she will walk though the door from this life to the next if God does not intervene.

Her days, like mine and yours, are marked out for her from the beginning of time. Consider this: Adam would still be alive if humans didn't have to die. Think about that - every person born ... still alive.

Why do we avoid planning the end of this life? We know it's coming.

God does not guarantee an evening for each morning you or I awaken. One evening or some morning is crossed off your schedule and mine. We'll be dead. (Some days I'm more excited about that than others. Like my father-in-law said, 10 days before he died, "I can't wait! Soon I'll see what I've only believe. How wonderful will that be!")

Here's a question for you: how much do you love your siblings, your husband / wife, or your kids? Have you proved it by writing your will and appointing an executor to prevent a family hassle of apportioning assets and memorabilia? Wouldn't you hate to leave behind a mess that loved ones have to clean up, emotionally and physically? (Or don't you care that much about others? "After all, I'll be gone.")

Here's another question: Are you buildling a worthwhile legacy? How would you like to be remembered once your stuff is out of the way? 

Read more:

*Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 NLT

*In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. Psalm 57:1 NLT

*In Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14 NLT

*You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11 NLT

Moravian Prayer: In the shadow of your wings may we take refuge this day in you, Father eagle and Mother hen. As we lean into your enfolding presence, may we feel your heartbeat, the comfort of your nearness, and your life-giving love.

Today, speak again your words of comfort and love, O Christ, saying, “Peace be with you”. May we hear these words in such a way that we are freed to see ourselves and others through your loving eyes. Amen.

Don't cry for me

This week two countries grieve the loss of their leaders. Czechs lit candles for their departed leader. To those of us in the West, the tears and wailing over North Korea's dictator's death seems surreal. How could people mourn someone who brought them poverty, hunger, and alienation from the rest of the world?

We come into this world and leave it alone. No one asks for our permission to begin or end our days. Only God knows the length and breadth of our lifetime.

It's been a great treat to watch Kinsey, our first grandchild, begin her development. Her personality has not yet emerged, but one thing is clear. She likes people and blossoms around them, as does her sweet mother.

Her Opa watches her every Friday night. When she wails and he can't comfort her, Oma knows the tricks to putting her to sleep. Oh, I can't wait to get this degree done so I can relax with her, too. Our house feels like it is slowly but surely being invaded by baby stuff. (Yeah, Mom, I remember the same thing happening to your place when our kids were little.)

What will life bring her? We don't know what aspirations will drive her, what her hopes will be, if she will marry and have a family, and if she will be beautiful or plain. We hope she has great joy and health, influences people toward a relationship with Jesus Christ, and lives a long, full life in a peaceful country.



Looking at the pictures of the outpouring of sympathy for this week's two dead men, I doubt that either she or I will generate such festivities in passing. I'd like to be remembered for loving others, serving with genuine care, and seeking after God with all my heart. Whether or not anyone lights a candle in my memory, I hope they don't cry for me.

Christians enjoy the wonderful hope of walking through death's door to be with God. That's what we were created for, and that will be the ultimate fulfillment. It's worth living a holy life that pleases God.

This Christmas, I'm thrilled to accept God's ultimate gift, a relationship made possible by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of his Son. Thinking about that makes me want to celebrate! 

Read more:

"The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity." Proverbs 11:20 (NLT)

*Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  

      Behold, your King is coming to you;  

      He is just and having salvation,  

      Lowly and riding on a donkey,  

      A colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
      And the horse from Jerusalem;
      The battle bow shall be cut off.
      He shall speak peace to the nations;
      His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
      And from the River to the ends of the earth." Zechariah 9:9-10 NKJV

*2 Samuel 7:1-11,16; Luke 1:47-55 Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

*Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Jeremiah 25:6 NLV

* The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:49

*Even though there may be so-called gods - for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6 NLV

Moravian prayer: One true God, we are on bended knee. We are not always deserving of your wellspring of all that is good. Empower us to better serve your kingdom here on earth and to be gracious stewards of all that you have entrusted to us. Amen.