In a Blink of an Eye

Today was a very sad day. The clouds filled the sky. It was cold and dreary and my daughter, her friends and the entire school, Notre Dame Prep said goodbye to her teacher, their coach, their friend, their collegue.

I couldn't stop thinking about the wife and children of Coach Bemis. Somehow it seems unfair to lose a role model, husband and father at the young age of 45. He was born the same year as me. When I got home tonight I listened to the story of one of Abby's friends who had lost his mom when he was in the fifth grade. I remember that sad day when Cynthia went home. I planned many school parties with her through the years since Abby has been in school with her dear friend since kindergarten. And then I read how a very special young lady lost her sister a couple of years ago.

It only brought up the conversation with Abby tonight as she drifted off how much we missed her grandpa and I my grandma. All of these stories have something in common. We have all loved dearly, and we have all lost. Everyone has left this earth in a different way, but they all knew the same Savior. How do I know that? In the way they lived their lives. They loved deeply, they lived sacrificially and they all lived a life that was an example for others to see the love of Jesus. They all impacted our lives in a way that we will never be the same.

Why is it that they have left us so soon? I'm not sure, I wish I knew. I know it is probably the same question that all of us ask. This is so haunting because it doesn't often make sense when they are impacting the lives of so many when they leave us behind. One of the most comforting things that someone ever said to me is found in Psalms 139. It says Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. God knows how many days each one of us will spend on this earth. It is not unexpected, there is a plan, even though it is not mine. We would love to have the ones we love with us until we are here no more.

There is deep sorrow and suffering in having to say goodbye to someone that we love before we are ready and for many of us, we don't even get the chance to say goodbye. In a blink of an eye, the one we love is no longer here. There are no more hugs or kisses, there are no more long talks or telephone calls. You long to hear the sound of their laughter or their voice to hear their stories or words of wisdom. You long to just sit in their presence without a word being said. In a blink, there is silence, separation, the relationship is no more. You hold memorabilia in your hand, memories, pictures of days gone by. All of us understand death. All of us know someone who has lost a friend or loved one.

What is the purpose for all of this? We are longing to be reunited with those that we love. We can't wait for there to be no more death, no more pain or suffering. We long for home, an eternal home. Death causes us to think about the future, eternity. Without death, we are comfortable living here. But earth is just temporary. In our earthly state, our bodies will one day return as dust. It is our spirits that live on. Christ created us for a relationship with HIM. At times, it is only in our grief and pain that we turn to Him realizing what a void we feel. Only He can fill that void. The hope is in the fact that those that I mentioned above are waiting for their loved ones. There are helping God prepare an eternal home for their family and friends.

There is not a word or phrase that one can bring comfort to one who has lost. It is only Jesus that can provide comfort and peace to the one who grieves. All we can do is be there with arms open wide, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, prayers offered on their behalf...

And to those who remain, how will we spend our days left here written in the book??? Are they spent on life that is frivolous, or days spent to show others the way? In a blink of an eye, any one of us could be gone!