Today I'm overcome with many emotions... gratitude, joy, but also deep heartache. It seems as though everyday there's a massive headline describing another shattered piece of our broken world. My heart aches for the hate, the hurt, and the heavy hearts in our world, because brokenness is all around us and often all-consuming.
In moments like these, we realize how precious this life is. I'm reminded in these moments of the joy and gratitude I feel to be alive, but ache at the same time for those who are no longer with us. . . Life is fleeting. Too often we try to grasp on to this life - the things and people around us - to find comfort. Bur the reality is, we weren't created to do so, because, life is fleeting.
When I woke up this morning, I was awoken with the heartbreaking news of the passing of an old friend. I had the pleasure of knowing him in our many years acting at Valley Youth Theatre. The theatre we called home and the people we called family will remain with us forever; no matter how far we may drift apart from one another, we will always be family. Scrolling through Facebook posts about people's memories, it is undoubtedly clear he was so deeply loved. He knew better than anyone how to love others, bring joy to every situation, and give the greatest hugs. Every time I saw him at a rehearsal or show, I was greeted with the biggest smile and embrace. He truly touched the lives of those around him and taught us how to encourage and love others genuinely and deeply.
When I think about the beautifully delicate life we've been given, I think of flowers. Flowers are planned, planted, and cared for, just as our God has done for each of us. However, these delicate flowers can experience trauma from being picked and prodded, environmental disasters, or destruction from another flower. We live in a world of sin where our own mental illnesses or those around us can torment us to make us feel more broken. We can experience deep pain from disasters we cannot even begin to understand. And we can be terrorized and destroyed by another human being. In these times of brokenness, the only place we can turn to find comfort and solace is in God. He is the only one who can truly hold the burden of our pain and grant us comfort in return. Despite our ever-changing broken world, He remains the same always and forever.
We were not created to grasp on to this life, because there is something far greater available to us all because of the selfless love of Jesus. We may never understand the tragedies and injustices in our broken world, but I do know God shakes the unstable and false foundations we build our lives upon, so we can build our lives upon Him to then be called Home one day.
God created us to live in community to love and live with one another. I encourage you to call those you love, maybe an old friend you lost touch with, and tell them they matter, they are loved, and they are not alone. It could maybe even save someone's life. I want to also encourage you that you are never alone because no matter how far you run, the Lord is and always will be with you to guide, protect, and save you. The you that you are will always be enough because you are the you God created you to be. This life may be fleeting but it is a precious gift, so make every moment last and never forget to tell those you love how much they matter.