Reflecting on Crisis

The most recent edition of Time Magazine arrived in my mailbox on Saturday emblazoned with the headline, What Really Happened 2000 - 2010. The time-frame issue offered reflection pieces on the major events that happened during the decade that will end December 31. It made for great reading, and I would highly recommend it. This current decade has been a time of tremendous change, consider the technological advances, just for starters. The way we view elections was altered due to the "Chad Debate" in 2000. Our country will forever be different because of the events of 9/11. We have endured contant war as we tried to fight terrorism in Iraq and then Afganistan. One of our countries most historic and iconic cities was almost totally destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and we have all been effected by the unstable economy. As a nation we have been in almost constant crisis.

Crisis are a reality. As a write this I have friends who are dealing with the ultimate crisis: the immenent death of a family member. Barbara Brunworth had a serious heart attack last Wednesday night. She has never regained consciousness. Test show serious brain damage. Her family faces the tough decision to take her off life support. Her husband, Jerry, was headmaster during most of my years at Lutheran High. Jerry was much more than a boss. When my wife, Barbara, went through cancer surgery it was Jerry Brunworth who sat with me and prayed. Barbara Brunworth's daughter, Liz, and her husband, Brad, were colleagues during my tenure at LHS. We remain close friends. As families, our lives have been connected in so many ways. I spent time with them on Friday. Despite the situation, they were confident and rational. There faith and hope in Christ were obvious. I know they will grieve, but ultimately they will be ok, because Barbara's eternal life is secure.

In John 16:33 Jesus tell us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." Crisis are a reality in this world. We are just the blink of an eye away from a tragedy. I still maintain, the strongest witness we can give as Christians is the way that we react to those crisis. In all things we must be people of hope. Now, before those difficult times strike, is the time to get yourself and your family prepared. The way to do that is to be in God's Word and to surround yourself with a community of faith. It's not a question of if, but rather when that tragedy is going to happen. Celebrate the present, but arm yourself for the future.