Karen

My sister Karen died around 8:00 this morning, and I'm numb trying to process it all.

With Mom's recent death, and with A.J.'s, with Dad's terminal diagnosis and now with Karen - I understand (no, I deeply feel) the bleakness and despair that drives people to abandon worldviews like the one I've clung to all these years. That is, the Judeo-Christian worldview.

Yes, now I know why people give up. I know why they conclude that Christianity is just a myth - that it's merely a nice little dream that keeps life simple until the hard realities of the real world crash in. I get it - I really do.

Yes, in times like these I feel a strong impulse to chuck the whole thing down the drain.

But then, I realize that this precise situation - with all the associated emotions of loneliness, doubt, isolation, loss and dread - this is what my worldview proposes will be fixed in Messiah's kingdom. The Judeo-Christian story says that the world to come will contain new life, new possibilities and new beginnings for those of us that dare to believe such a story.


And so even today - I choose to believe.
...He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death;
there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. We are praying for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Mike, I am praying for you and your family. So sad to hear about your loss.

Mark Donnelly

DIY Midwest Family said...

Karen is finally at peace. May God Bless her family.

Mike Aleckson said...

Many thanks to you all. We're back now from the funeral, and the only thing to do is move forward in this strange time.

Anonymous said...

My family is keeping yours in our prayers