Good morning…
Queen Elizabeth II. Hurricane Fiona victims. Ukrainians and Russians killed in senseless war. Floods in central Italy. An earthquake in Taiwan. Wildfires blaze wildly out west. Gun violence steals lives across our nation. So many friends have recently lost loved ones to disease, to cancer, to addiction, to suicide, to overpowering riptide currents. It seems that death has been taking a really high toll. Prayerfully considering our collective grief, yesterday I hit a wall.
Then I opened the devotional message below.
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DAILY MEDITATION | SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 – Suddenly a Wall Becomes a Gate by Henri Nouwen
Death is part of a much greater and much deeper event, the fullness of which we cannot comprehend, but of which we know that it is a life-bringing event. . . . What seemed to be the end proved to be the beginning; what seemed to be a cause for fear proved to be a cause for courage; what seemed to be defeat proved to be victory; and what seemed to be the basis for despair proved to be the basis for hope. Suddenly a wall becomes a gate, and although we are not able to say with much clarity or precision what lies beyond the gate, the tone of all that we do and say on our way to the gate changes drastically.
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:54 (NIV)
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Last week a friend made an interesting comment. She said, “It’s like a grasshopper watching a little boy ride a bike. We simply can’t comprehend the incredible experience of life beyond death with God.”
Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21, AMP).
…Sue…
