07 November 2005
Sad Day
Today started out with sadness. I have a very close friend, James Krauser. He's a remarkable man in many ways, a parish pastor, an outstanding homilist, and the secretary for the New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We've been arguing theology and loving liturgy since we were at Concordia Bronxville together back in the early 1980's. Today Jim's only sister died. Jane was younger than us by a few years - she was only 43. She had struggled with breast cancer and its spread for a number of years. Jim and his mom have now buried his father and are preparing to bury Jane. Only Jim and his mom are left. I'd invite you all to pray for him and for the repose of his sister. Rest eternal... (in the way of the West) and Memory eternal... (in the way of the East). Either way, Jimbo, I love you, my brother and wish so much I could be with you during this rough time. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116.
One more thought: I HATE death. I hate it with a passion. That damnable sucker has gobbled down too many of the people that I have known and hurt too many that I love. I am SOOOO thankful that God hates death too - and with a passion far greater than anything I'd ever know. He hated enough to punch a hole right through that stinking monsters gut. It feels good to remind Death of that on a day like this:
ReplyDeleteDeath, you cannot end my gladness,
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise.
Though I lie in dust and ashes
Faith's assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the power divine
To make life immortal mine!