Why We Must Thrive

In the face of tragedy and despair, we often ask ourselves:
How will I survive this?

But is merely surviving enough?

Death is part and parcel of life.
So is suffering, pain, heartache, separation, and disease.
But to simply lie down and admit defeat to the infirmities of life would be totally unfair to our Creator.


With each successive brush with the issue of mortality, I have come to notice that there is a pattern in my reaction:

Shock
Anger
Grief
Despair
Numbness
More grief
Surrender
and finally, a passionate gusto to grab life by the balls and LIVE IT UP.

And then, quite possibly, the cycle repeats at a lower intensity.

Each person reacts seemingly differently, and yet there are distinct similarities.
For those who must continue our journey can only do so by finding a reason.



Life needs a purpose.
You cannot just live it blindly.
But you don't need to sweat it either.
Because sometimes all you need to do to find that reason to live your life... is to take one breath at a time.



****


When I first heard the news of Edwin's demise a few days ago, I went into immediate shock and denial.
But when grief finally found me, the only way to drive it out was to cry out to God for peace.
And it came.
As sure as the next morning.


I fear for those who think they have to bear the grief alone.
For that is entirely untrue.
The biggest lie you can EVER tell yourself is that you are alone.
We are more alike than you can imagine.
You and me.
Our hearts break with the same intensity.
They just do not appear to be the same sometimes.
But in reaching out to one another, we can find solace.

That is why God created communities.
That is what the church is all about.
In this close-knit, albeit imperfect network of human relations, we find our purpose in life - to learn to love each other, to enrich others' lives.... to bear with each other.
To give and receive.

And in that act, somehow, we will not just survive, but thrive.

****


Rest in peace Edwin. Till we meet again...