A tragedy

This was a tragic week in the life of a local family.  And, it affects more than just their family.  An 11-year-old boy died, leaving mom and dad, an older brother, and other family members.  He also left his friends on his ball team, friends from school, friends from his neighborhood , and friends from Camp Dodge, a summer program for young children.  My wife and I have three young children and our two oldest, Luke and Adam, went to Camp Dodge with Dylan. 
    As we heard the first reports of the accident it was unimaginable, a terrible accident involving a father and his son.  I thought of our young children…we could not grasp the anguish they must be going through.  How do you take your next breath?  How do you sleep? If you do sleep, how do you get out of bed in the morning?  How do you eat, return to work…worship the next Sunday?  Do you bawl or sit in extended silence?  If you bawl…how do you stop?
    This is not a time for platitudes.  Telling the family, "just have faith" somehow does not fill the void.  "We love you," helps. "We are praying for you," helps more.  Time, at this point, doesn’t even register.  When we go through situations like this, someone who has been through this and survived can be of some comfort.   God has been through it with his son.
    When Jesus was baptized a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  Sounds like a proud, loving father.  When Jesus went to the cross, his father was there also.  When Jesus, God’s son, died the bible records that "darkness came over all the land" and the "earth shook and the rocks split."  I believe that God’s emotions were showing.   Weeping and groaning, and when God convulsed the earth shook.   God’s son whom he loved was dead.  God knew he would soon rise to life but he still deeply felt the pain and separation.  Our loved ones in Christ will also raise but the pain is still there and words that comfort are few and far between.
    "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead," exclaimed Paul in the book of Corinthians.  Continuing, he said, "For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."  Paul also said, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death."  We are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled.
    Jesus also experienced unimaginable grief when his close friend Lazarus died (John 11).  The Bible says that Jesus wept.  I understand that a better translation of "Jesus wept" is that he broke down and bawled or deeply convulsed.  The people standing by observed, "See how he loved him," referring to Jesus’ love for Lazarus.  In John 38, it says that "Jesus, once more deeply moved," or " Jesus groaned deeply."  Jesus lived a perfect life…he also demonstrated perfect sorrow.  True sorrow affects us to the very depths of our being.  I am sure Dylan’s family understands this emotion completely.
    At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  Lazarus did as commanded and Jesus said, "Take off the grave cloths and let him go."  I don’t claim to know how the resurrection will take place but I would like to think that this might be an example.  At the death of a child of God I believe that God just might say "Dylan, come up here."  And then command the angles, "Take off the grave cloths and let him fly."
From the family of God…our prayers and thoughts are with you.  Lean on us and let us help share your sorrow.  Allow us to be God’s arms and shoulders.  In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”