A friend’s son died last week. So shocked, sad and sad. They are not my tears to cry, but I cry them. It is a shared sorrow that my heart knows well. A shared helplessness that I cannot understand.
It is a complete juxtaposition with where I currently find myself. On a holiday houseboating down the Murray in South Australia. It’s so beautiful, magnificent cliffs, a majestic river, and good times with friends we see all to seldomly. Then the news from others, themselves at a funeral I could not attend.
I sat this morning in the sunshine thinking through the questions we ask in these moments and all the cliches that just don’t cut it when grief comes to visit. You know, all the whys, what ifs and what could have beens.
And another tear, another wave, another all too familiar feeling.
But how to make sense of the nonsensical?
I cast my inner eyes up as a kind of prayer, with no tangible words, just a heart of feeling, and longing for answers and comfort for my friends. With hope that the words that come will help to make some sense.
We are chugging along on the Murray and these little birds, maybe swallows, maybe sparrows, have accompanied us along the whole journey. They fly around the boat, under the boat, and rest on our handrails. We wondered why, are there bugs on our boat for them, but they do not seem to be eating anything, is there a nest, but we cannot find one … they simply seem to enjoy it. They are having fun, not a care in the world.
On the banks of the river reeds bounce in the breeze, heaving with flowers, as if to bow and stand, bow and stand. Not a care in the world, they have all they need.
So I considered them. It is familiar. It’s a bible passage that tells us to look at the birds without a care in the world, and the flowers in the field that get all they need without a human hand ever tending them. Yet the point of the story is greater: as much as God cares for those things, He sees and cares for us so much more. He just knows. He knows what we need and what makes us sad.
Bible stories help us to see ourselves in another light. We should make ourselves one of the characters and respond from there. If I am a bird, I can fly, I know I can, I believe I can. If I am a flower I grow towards the sun consuming all the goodness that is around me. My response is a “knowing”. Knowing I am cared for, adored, loved, accepted, provided for, held, even in the sadness, even when the clouds are very, very grey.
He tells me not to look too far ahead, just for right now to know He cares. One day at a time. Moment by moment. Tomorrow will take care of itself. In this moment He knows what I need, what my friends need. He just knows.
The birds of the air and the flowers in the field are OK.
Loved, cared for, and sustained.
Even through tears: loved, cared for, and sustained.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:26 – 34
26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
The Sequel 