This past weekend my community in Iowa experienced the worst tradegy I can remember. Pastor Mick Murray & his wife Julie were killed in a car accident. There are some things in our lives that are part of going home. For me it was going to the Church of my high school days where I first felt like I was part of the Church congregation. In the last few years, when we go home, I look forward to going to Church. I have many memories of the Murray's as MYF leaders. They made it okay to give an honest answer & not just the "Sunday school" answer. He was the kind of pastor that made you want to go to Church. He made being a Christian seem cool! His wife was so sweet. She had the kindest smile.
I know that I'm not suffering like some others, but the loss has really hit me since I just always expected them to be there when I went home. It feels like ... A broken heart. As I sit here wallowing in my sorrow, their daughter almost half my age writes one of the most eloquent essays about the loss of both of her parents. It is like she has become the rock for the community to rebuild upon.
As I look at my three month old little baby, I choose to believe in hope. I choose not to ask why Lord, I choose to seek refuge in the Lord. To be angry at God over such loss would minimize their life in Christ. I rejoice through my tears. I pray to God that I can use their life as an example of how to raise my son, how to be part of the community, to love & accept all of God's children, to live by example. If I know Mick & Julie, they are up in Heaven right now & Mick has either just told a funny joke, or he is laughing at something funny St. Peter has said, & Julie is there kindly shaking her head & smiling that beautiful smile.
I don't know how to end this a better way than the same hymn that my cousin Angie posted, so I will...
My life flows on in endless song
Above Earths lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging
Since love is lord of heaven & earth
How can I keep from singing
Through all the tumult & the strife
I hear the music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging
Since love is lord of heaven & earth
How can I keep from singing
What though my joys & comforts die
I know my soul still liveth
What though the darkness gather round
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clinging
Since love is lord of heaven & earth
How can I keep from singing.
I hate that horrible song...it makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME. Just reading it makes me cry. I guess that's why I posted it too though, because it's what we need to be reminded of right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good reminders.