GRIEF
Another product of Covide-19
Covid-19 has brought many things to our doorstep, but perhaps high among them is grief. Grief at the loss of loved-ones, friends, or colleagues. Grief in having to watch the struggle to survive as the virus attacks one’s lungs fighting for breath. Perhaps our grief turns to anger that our government was not somehow better prepared for this, or that we find them lacking in their response to the pandemic, even though there was really no way to know of its coming. Webster’s dictionary tells us that grief is the pain of mind produced by loss, misfortune, injury, or evils of any kind; sorrow; regret. We experience grief when we lose a friend, when we incur loss, when we consider ourselves injured, and by sympathy, we feel grief at the misfortunes of others.
Perhaps some grieve that they did not follow the guidance of mask-wearing, safe distancing, etc. Maybe, for some reason or another, we chose not to be vaccinated. Regardless, our grief is very real, palpable, painful. It is at times such as these that it is easy to blame God. Afterall, as the common refrain goes, how could a loving God afflict His people in such a horrible way?
As Christians, if we are to be true to our faith, we understand that such an assertion lacks credibility as our God is a God of love and it is we who have upset the balance of the world which he created, and the life he would wish for us. Nonetheless, in seeking someone, or something to blame, He is an easy target!
I have had my own share of knowing grief, both in terms of my personal experience as in the loss of a wife to a car accident, which also severely injured my youngest daughter. I have also grieved for the heartbreak of friends and loved ones. Such was the case very recently when very dear friends lost their beautiful granddaughter in a fiery car wreck. Young, smart, loving, all the attributes of what should have been a wonderful life before her, yet all was snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Of course, there is no rhyme or reason to such things happening, but that does not stop us from seeking answers, even though we know that we will not find them. For some, like a friend of mine who lost his brother at a young age, it would create such an anger as to drive him, not just from his pursuit of religious orders, but from the church itself. For our friends who just lost their granddaughter, there was a different response. Oh! They grieve, mightily, but they also rest firm in the knowledge of her destination, and they thank God that she was not left with the lifelong pain and inevitable disfigurement that would have resulted had they managed to extract her from the conflagration that quickly engulfed the vehicle.
Another story that I found extraordinarily instructive was just this week shared by a classmate. A young woman, single, attractive, also a regular at her church, described how she was driving home after a long day at work. Tired, and thinking about a host of issues in her life, such as why she was still single and yet to find the right partner for her life. As she was approaching an intersection her phone fell to the floor and distracted, she looked down and thinking she saw a green light, proceeded into the intersection only to be hit, side-on by a large SUV. She described how, as her car rolled over, all she could think was whether she was going to die, but that she was not ready! Not ready in her mind to be right with God. Her tearful description about realizing all the things in her life which she had put ahead of God, and her relationship with Him through Christ Jesus was, to say the least, inspirational, and a wakeup call for myself about my own priorities. At such times, we find marked differences in how we respond to grief, and to the events that can change our life in a split second, and our very presence in this earthly realm.
One of the many privileges I have been granted in my life has been the opportunity to travel to over seventy countries, including extensive travel in India, from Srinagar in the north to Chennai in the south. Italy is also a favorite country which I have visited several times, and Rome is a city full of wonders, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. As one enters the magnificent, marble grandeur of the Basilica, it is impossible to avoid being physically overwhelmed by what the senses are trying to absorb, as the immensity and sheer beauty of the artwork challenges the mind. Then, as your eyes turn to the right, you see a darkened area with a soft amber glow reflecting a sculpture. It is, of course Michelangelo's Pieta, that indescribably beautiful depiction of Mary cradling the body of her son, much as she might have cradled him as a baby, or young child. The big difference of course is that this is now the tortured and broken body of a man, nonetheless still her son, and here Michelangelo has captured an image of grief that surely expresses the very essence of that emotion. She could not have understood what he had meant when he said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” Even His disciples could not quite grasp that, they had been looking for a savior who would put down the Roman oppression, and even though they had walked and talked with Him, listening to parables, they just did not seem to get it! No, this was simply a mother's grief of such intensity as to pierce the soul and cause the same question to be asked, why? It is natural that as mere mortals we struggle with this. Throughout our whole lives, at least for most of us, we exist as physical beings with little regard for our spiritual being which lays buried beneath the clutter of everyday living, all too infrequently to be raised to the priority it deserves. It is easier that way, particularly as the world around us devolves into an increasingly secular state, and our focus increasingly turns to me, my, and I, as we seek to find happiness in the acquisition of more stuff, while worrying about how to protect what we already have. As trust on multiple levels breaks down, it is easy to see why we become overwhelmed as such conditions cause us to be unable to see the proverbial forest for the trees. Why are we so blinded to what is happening around us? For that answer, we must again turn to scripture, as Jesus cautions us in Matthew, and I paraphrase here; ... “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah..." Nonetheless, He does tell us that there are signs to watch for, and more importantly, to be vigilant, ready! Are we?
Eschatology, the study of the End Times is certainly a mystery wrapped in colorful and confusing language that involves descriptions of a variety of weird beasts which many have tried to interpret. I think they miss the point; we are unlikely to be able to unravel the language of Revelation, at least not accurately. So, what is the point of the scripture? Simple, be vigilant in your faith and be observant of the conditions in the world around you. There is a long list of signs to look for, but of course critics will tell you they could apply to any time from the first century until now! With one exception! In 1948 Israel became a nation state and the Jews of the diaspora flooded home. Then, upon his reelection, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an appeal to the Jews in Europe to return to Israel, and just recently President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital and moved the American embassy there. Coincidence? I will leave that for you to decide. Now, that does not mean that Christ is returning tomorrow, next month, or next year. We do not get to know that. We are just always told to be ready, secure in the faith that He is returning, and that all grief will end, and our tears shall be turned to Joy.
So, how hard is it for us to step outside of our everyday life and take some time to let our Spirit free to help us attain some clarity, and yes, that Peace of which we are assured. Certainly, when we are amid the death and the heartache of Covid that is a challenge, but a challenge we must struggle to overcome if the grief of these days is to be endured. For Covid-19 is probably a long way from finishing the ravages it continues to rain down upon us. We can do the things necessary to try to protect ourselves from it, but ultimately some, probably many will not escape the suffering and ultimate death it promises. Our most secure protection, ultimately, is to remain secure in our faith.