I spent this afternoon in a meeting room at a local children's hospital. I joined the family and friends of a young couple whose infant daughter is in ICU. Little Kate is having seizures and they can't find the cause. Some of the seizures are severe enough to cause her to stop breathing. The parents, Andrew and Lauren, are former students of mine from Lutheran High days. Andrew is also a good friend of our son, Mark. We spent over an hour together praying for little Kate and her parents.
It seems to be the season for serious health issues. I flew down to McAllen, Texas on Wednesday at the invitation of my friend Jeff Pool. I was scheduled to do a parenting workshop and spend Thursday working with the students in the school where Jeff serves as principal. After getting off the plane I was informed that Jeff had been hospitalized after a series of strokes. I spent my two days in the Rio Grande Valley shuttling between the school and hospital. The prognosis for Jeff is good, but it is still scary. Last night I received word that another good friend, has bladder cancer. My ninety-two year old mom has been in the hospital for three weeks recovering from a bout with the flu and Barb's sister is hospitalized with C-Diff following surgery for uterine cancer. Another friend is battling an infection in a wound following foot surgery. My personal prayer list seems to grow daily. As the D.J.'s used to say in the 60's; "The hits just keep on coming."
It seem ironic now, but last weekend I was doing research at our local library. I wasn't looking for a book, but I stopped to browse the rack that contained new releases. There a midst the other titles was a book by Philip Yancy, The Question that Never goes Away: Why. It was the sequel to a book by the same author that I read years ago, Where is God when I Hurt? The author reflects on his visits to Japan following the tsunami and Sarajevo after the bloody civil war. He also writes about his experience ministering to the residents of Newtown, Connecticut follow the Sandy Hook tragedy. Reading Philip Yancy's insights was a way of preparing me for a tough week.
The reality is we live in a broken and fallen world. I awoke this morning to the news that there was a driveway robbery in our neighborhood. Another sign that I live in a sinful world. Our bodies are imperfect and will break down. I think I discovered another ache as I did my stretches this morning. We also need to remember that Satan was kicked out of heaven and told that the earth was his domain (Revelations 12:7-9). It's no wonder sins runs rampant here. If we need any proof that bad things happen to good people, we need look no further than our Savior. Jesus was, and still is, the only person to live a perfect life. His earthly reward was crucifixion. It's no wonder some of this parting words to his disciples were, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33b) He followed that up by saying, "Take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33c). In the midst of pain, suffering and grief we too can be overcomers.
That is where we find our hope in the tough times. That is why we are called to be messengers of hope and reconciliation when tragedy strikes. God calls us out of our comfort zones to minister to the broken, lost, hurting and grieving. The struggles on this earth are nothing in comparison to glory of heaven. And the Savior who overcame the cross and the grave is the only way to eternal life.
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