meditatio at the water's edge

All this talk of heaven... just got a phone call from my mother. She's in the 'know.' She's a mom. Anyway, called to tell me that a young man, a 23 year old, a former student at the church where I was a youth pastor for a while. He was fighting cancer, and his fight came to an end a couple of days ago. My heart breaks. It breaks with the kind of tension that likely caused the temple curtain to break in two as the Christ died.

This isn't the way things are meant to be. No. It's been years since I've seen Josh. He was a good man, a young man with athletic ability, a great football player. He was a blond haired kid with looks that likely melted many girls hearts, and yet he possessed a compassionate heart. The little I knew of Josh - he was a lover of people. That likely came naturally, or at least with the love of God. His parents are both sincere lovers of people as well - reflectors of God's love.

Two weeks ago another friend, Laurie, 46 years old and mother of two boys, ages 20 and 14, and an incredible wife, also found goodness in death. Still, at that funeral as well, my soul was thankful but restless. This isn't the way things are fully meant to be.

Let us long for a better tomorrow. Let us seek passionate friendships. Let us be lovers of people, and let's allow our hearts to continue to break in the midst of the pain and brokenness of creation. For when this creation is fully restored so will be the bodies of Josh and Laurie. I long. I long. (Hear me from the depths of my soul!!! YES, MY SOUL IS SHOUTING.) I long for that day.