Life is short

For Izora, Grandmother

For Marcia, Mother

For Madelynn, Sister

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” – Proverbs 1:7

Im scared of God. Not like the boogieman scared or a monster in the closet that could only be driven out by a sleepy eyed parent. Nah, this wasn’t a scary movie type of fear, you know the fear that barricades itself to floorboards long after the credit roll. No this fear wasn’t panic or terror nor grief or anxious thoughts on a random Tuesday

No.

This fear was like 12th grade graduation when the sea of well wishes, congratulations, and “I’ll be missing you”’s finally returned home to their proper sender leaving a note of uncertainty in the air, unsure of what was to come. maybe a summer job? or summer school? or just a summer filled with summer. Long beach days and frequent stops for ice cream on bike rides home

maybe

but

who really knows?

Who truly knows whats next,

besides

God

This Uncertain fear, That at any given moment something could change, could switch, that the bottom could give way to something new or something … else

That this God who gives life

Is the very God that can and will draw his breath back

sending one to the grave

this here is what i’m truly afraid of

we are all subject to death.

at any given moment this whole thing could stop. our mothers laughs, now an echo in a hallway, our fathers footsteps now filled in with dust, children’s toys now merely shadows longing for human touch

We think death is an act of violence against us. That death is proof God hates us or isn’t real or doesn’t love us but death is apart of life more than anything in between.

Death

was

a mercy

After a couple ate a piece of fruit in a garden, God acted in love so those inheriting the world after them, us, wouldn’t experience suffering longer than one life could hold.

From eden, until now, all who enter one door, will surely leave out the other

no do-overs

and for most, sooner than expected.

Life and Death is a pair neither of us can decide to take or leave behind,

our breath is proof we have no choice

Life is short. Although cliche theres nothing truer. Every day spent above ground is a good day, a sign that God is still making good use of us, still giving us permission to hold someone, to help someone, to try again, to forgive someone or in most instances ask for forgiveness.

God is merciful

and in his mercy hes been

keeping me,

my family,

you, and yours.

the ability to call the one you love and have them answer on the other side is an act of immense compassion.

yes, God is keeping us.

for so many this morning, phone calls went unanswered. The usual roll over in expectation of being greeted by the eyes of the one you call home suddenly turned into 911 calls of panic “he’s not moving” “please send help”

Somebody didn’t make it into work

car never started

keys still leaning on the nightstand

somebody

right now,

at this very moment

has a voicemail filled with “Thinking of you”

and

“oh how I wish you were still here”

Yes Death is a mercy, Death is very much apart of life but boy does it hurt. Boy does it have the power to swell a belly full.

The phrase “Life is short” is a reminder that those God entrusted to us – those weve been tasked to love from the cradle to the grave is worth our efforts.

That treating every image bearer we run past with kindness, and gentleness was simply a response to the kindness and gentleness of a good God that woke us up this morning and started us on our way

“Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭

God is love

amen and amen

🕊️