Thursday, January 11, 2007

The nagging question...WHY???

Earlier this afternoon, I received news that my friend Amy died. She has been, since I have known her, courageously battling cancer. We celebrated that she had been cancer-free for a time, but shortly after she returned to Trinity for her senior year she was diagnosed with cancer again. But she fought throughout the year and was the strongest person I think I have ever seen - in class even when she probably should've just crashed, and mentoring and encouraging me as a young woman in ministry. Her faith was what kept her looking up and smiling, trusting in God and the promise we have all ben given. Her faith and committment to God and the church was a gift to all of us.

And for a while now, another friend and I have been continually asking the age-old question, "Why?" Why does she have to battle this disease? Why Amy? She just graduated from seminary and began serving as a pastor. She had a passion for teaching and preaching, and for asking the tough questions. Why her? Why now? It just doesn't seem fair!

Well, we haven't found an answer, and we probably never will. Death is a part of life. What we do know is that God's promise of salvation is sure! There is no question about that. And God has blessed all who have known, or been impacted by Amy's shear love and passion for God and those around her. That is for sure. Death doesn't have the last word!

I pray that God will enfold Amy's family and friends in God's arms and remind us all of the promise and hope that we are gifted with in Christ. May our lives reflect the passion and the love that Amy lived!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

WHY??? There really is no answer, at least not that we can understand in this world. A good book on the subject, including a discussion of the nagging question, is [i]Arise from Darkness: What to do when Life Doesn't Make Sense[/i] by Father Benedict Groeschel.

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