Mark Sorensen It’s been said that what we need more of in the world is simply found in two words: more cowbell. Though I am a fan of that theology, I will also add that last Sunday morning in the Harvest what we needed more of was not more cowbell, it was more candles. Lots and lots more candles.
We knew that touching on the topic of loss and death would be a heavy one, but we also knew that there are topics that, as pastors, we mustn’t shy away from just because they are heavy and hit a nerve. And that, my friends, has been the driving force behind this series, Perfectly Imperfect. Truly, these messages were born out of prayer and direction from the Holy Spirit to address the very brokenness that we have witnessed and seen within our own lives, and within the lives of those around us and in the greater Woodlands community. So, the reaction to last Sunday’s message on loss, landed where it did because loss touches us all in some form or fashion.
Some of you may be familiar with Rick and Kay Warren. Rick is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in California. In 2013, at the age of 27, their son committed suicide after a long struggle with mental illness. A year after his death, Kay Warren posted the following advice on her Facebook page:
The truest friends and “helpers” are those who wait for the griever to emerge from the darkness that swallowed them alive without growing afraid, anxious, or impatient. They don’t pressure their friend to be the old familiar person they’re used to; they’re willing to accept that things are different, embrace the now-scarred one they love, and are confident that their compassionate, non-demanding presence is the surest expression of God’s mercy to their suffering friend. They’re ok with messy and slow and few answers… and they never say, “move on”.
Remember. Suffering, grieving? It’s a part of life. Jesus experienced it. We all experience it. However, in the midst of our grieving, we also know that God heals. Psalm 147:3 reminds us, “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” It may not be immediate. It will not be overnight. But God is working in the process. So? We remember. We say the name. We are present with those hurting and, greater, we lock arms with one another and we circle the block with them being reminded that there is still beauty in the world.
This is community.
This is church.
This is the perfectly imperfect community of faith in which we stand. And what we know about this rock that Christ has called us to live upon? Here’s he assurance and promise, friends. He will build His church and “even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
