the one thing we know for sure

As this day has been approaching I've thought about the anniversaries of death that affect me. "Everyday," I've thought to myself, "someone is struggling through the death of a loved one." I have certain days, and weeks, of the year during which I bitterly remember those I once knew. They're often just another day to those around me. Sometimes I feel that way, too. Other times I'm paralyzed by the memories. I reckon that each of these days is also a day of relief for others. They are anniversaries of a close call, the near miss of catastrophe.

I met a young man on a plane this summer who's aunt was mean't to be on one of those flights, 18 years ago. She made a last minute choice to change her plans. Damn. How does that change the way you grieve such an event?

I have found that the best way to grieve days like this one is to do just that, grieve. 

Explore the way it affects me. 

Write it out. 

Share it. 

Think about it. 

Don't ignore it. 

Death is a reality of life. 

In fact, the only thing we can be absolutely sure of in this life is that it will end. 

We are promised hardship. 

A broken, fallen, world cannot deliver good and perfect gifts. 

Our bodies and souls seek to reject the brokenness around us as we await the coming kingdom. 

But it is precisely for this hope that we endure. 

Paul acknowledges in Romans 8:26-27 that we don't always know how to respond to the tragedy and brokenness of this world. 

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for searching our hearts and crying out for us when we don't know how to! 

I take comfort in knowing that God also grieves when he sees this broken world. 

I take comfort that he has put a plan of restoration in place, 

and that it is his will that all those who believe in his Son shall have eternal life (John 6:40). 

I take comfort in Christ's gift and that there is no condemnation in him (John 3:17, Romans 8:1). 

But my heart still hurts! 

And that's okay.

Hear me, brothers and sisters; it's okay to acknowledge that all is not right in the world. 

In fact, our faith would be pointless if all was right in the world. 

"There is a time for everything under the sun..."(Ecclesiastes 3). 

So take heart, brother.

Take heart, sister. 

The sufferings of this world are not where things end. 

But they are where things are,

and Christ is our only strength through them. 

-Jacqueline Ann