Love Life

15 September 2012

Okay, so the title maybe a tad misleading...but stick with me here.  Connecting with friends more means hearing about joy and sorrow.  It's the sorrow, pain, wrestling questions in the lives of loved ones that means being present more than saying words.  Those moments when relationship goes beyond words and the ever present, "why?!".   Everyone struggles with something.  No matter how picture perfect you think her/his life may be, I can almost guarantee that everyone has a struggle, a hurt, a pain that they deal with on a regular basis.  Today my best friend finds herself in deep pain and anguish.

It's the proverbial "why do bad things happen to good people?" question.  Why does God let tragedies exist?  Why does evil seem to have such a firm grip on some lives?

When we focus on lives on evil, tragedy, or the bad stuff of life, our whole mindset gets sucked into that black hole.  Things feel hopeless, pointless, unfair, and anxious.  When we focus on what good, positive, or hopeful outcome that can come out of those ashes, our whole mind and heart can be transformed and healed over time, (albeit scabbed over).

Death never has the last word...life does.   Life breeds hope, generosity, and sharing.  A friend who used to direct a local homeless shelter described to me what it was like when a new baby was born and brought into the shelter with her mom.  Obviously life had been tough for many residents for all sorts of reasons.  Actions and words could become hostile at times, tempers flared.  However, when that new life was brought into the shelter in the arms of her mother, everyone was on their best behavior.  They supported mother and child in ways that reflects how it takes a village to raise a child.  People saw how they were needed in a hands on way and it gave purpose.  "The baby brought out the best in everyone," my friend reflected.  Love for that new life won over dwelling on the differences, gripes, or the hardship of life everyone found themselves in.

I understand the necessity of expressing anger, sadness, depression, and pain.  Those are real needs to become aware and troubled by injustices.  I will spend time there with my friend today and listen.  I will seek to understand her experience from her point of view and simply be there with her in the pain.  However, we won't dwell there forever. Eventually, there is life that needs attention, love, and nurturing.

It may not be today, but eventually, we will explore what good can rise out of those ashes of despair and death.  Can something be resurrected by and through an ever present Spirit inside each of us?  I believe it can, will, and does so much more than we realize.  And I pray that through the hardest times, God will help my unbelief.  For in the end, love and life win over sin, death, and any evil.  Love life, my friend.  Love life.