I have so many mixed emotions as I read Joan Mac Main’s obituary in this morning’s Courier-Times. Knowing her very difficult struggle with pancreatic cancer over the last couple of months, I rejoice that her battle is over and her victory is won. But how sad I am – certainly for Pastor Jim and for their whole family – but I am also sad for myself and for the rest of us who have been lucky enough to have known Joan – she was truly a ‘minister’ extraordinaire! For Joan’s family, I’m sure the loss is almost too much to bear. But for the rest of us, the loss also stings.
Sometimes it seems that life goes in cycles – and there are times when we experience one great loss after another. We feel that we are sometimes on the verge of not being able to cope. And our hearts and minds struggle with the eternal question of life and death.
Where are our loved ones – are we SURE that there is such a thing as heaven? Are those who’ve gone before still with us and watching over us? What is heaven like? And why does it have to be this way, Lord?
Of course, there are some questions that will have to wait for answers until WE take the ultimate journey for ourselves – and we will have to live with that tension.
But let’s be honest – this life, with all of its trials and tribulations, and twists and turns – it only makes sense if God’s promises are trustworthy and true. It only makes sense if there IS a life to come – a wonderful life where everything DOES make perfect sense, and there is no more pain, injustice, confusion, or disease. And speaking for myself – I know that my son, Chris, who left this world three years ago – he’s alive, he’s well, and he’s waiting for the day we’ll be together again.
I don’t know why there is such a thing as death, and I don’t know why it has to be this way. But what I DO know is that God doesn’t think of death as something terrible – it’s just part of life – it’s just a change of form. After all, a loving Creator would never have created something that was not good.
So let’s trust in God. God knows what He is doing.
Pastor Janice
Thank you Pastor Janice,
Chris’s cousin passed away yesterday morning and what you are saying does seem true. It seems like death goes in spurts, one after another after another. And the older I get it seems like they don’t just come in 3′s anymore, it’s more like 6′s!
Anyway, your words, like always, are comforting. I think we are blessed to have this kind of technology… this website. I want us to be able to guide people to it and make good use out of it. Especially since you are writing on it so much. I want to use it as an outreach tool! I AM USING YOU, lol.