Today my morning walk took me through our beautiful little community south of Munich, along a gorgeous path through a beautiful park, and on the way into a very peaceful forest. As I walked, I noticed golden leaves floating from the branches where they lived and thrived through the seasons of spring and summer. The leaves fell and joined others, as together they formed a golden carpet over the paths along which I walked. As the cool breeze of autumn refreshed my face, I began to think how seasons change to offer a continual feast of beauty to those who can have the desire or capability to perceive it.
Such an experience often calls my attention to life and life experiences. I of course reflect on the glory of our Heavenly Father expressed in and through His creation, but today I was caused to think of the grief which had suddenly invaded the lives of people who are in some way very significant to me. Some from many years ago, others more recently, have been thrown into a time of grief. As I reflected on their lives and their losses, I allowed my thoughts to once again reflect on the realities of life. Life is beautiful in every respect. It is unimaginable that one could witness the birth of a child and not be humbled by the majesty of God as He once again bestows life. We then witness children growing up, and so often we fail to appreciate the beauty of all the changes involved in their lives individually and in their family’s life as they change and mature. Maturity brings with it preparation for an ultimate independence as they make their way through life.
The joys experienced, achievements made, the challenges overcome, relationships formed and relationships lost all can join together to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. Some tapestries portray a life filled with hope, even when loss is very real and often repeated. Even when joy fades, failures disappoint, or life becomes uncertain, hope sustains. Lives filled with such hope portray a special beauty through all the seasons of life, and this beauty glorifies God and sustains a joy. Other tapestries seem to picture lives lived in hopelessness. These lives seem to be characterized by despair, often bitterness, emptiness, and a tragic self-focus.
Life is wonderful, but no life is free from loss—and all loss will cause a sense of grief for each one who has experienced it. What makes the difference between the two is the subject of many explanations, philosophical discussions, sermons, and thoughts. As I walked, I thought of those who had suffered recent loss and the words of our Lord echoed in my mind, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." The question is, “From where does this comfort come?” The Bible explains that hope is not only the basis for our endurance, but it is also the source of our comfort. For hope flows from the very nature of our Heavenly Father's love revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, who has loved us so much that He gave Himself for us.
Solomon wrote a truth thousands of years ago which is relevant to life for each of us today. After his reflection on almost every aspect of life he wrote, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind." To understand this ultimate truth about life is to be able to know the beauty and wonder of life and the comfort of our Heavenly Father's love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This leads me to once again encourage us to abide in Christ, for to abide in Christ is to know the hope of the very love of God. This hope reminds us of our purpose of life, and it provides the hope in the love of our Heavenly Father, which enables us to rejoice in life through all of its seasons and, yes, be comforted in our grief.
Such an experience often calls my attention to life and life experiences. I of course reflect on the glory of our Heavenly Father expressed in and through His creation, but today I was caused to think of the grief which had suddenly invaded the lives of people who are in some way very significant to me. Some from many years ago, others more recently, have been thrown into a time of grief. As I reflected on their lives and their losses, I allowed my thoughts to once again reflect on the realities of life. Life is beautiful in every respect. It is unimaginable that one could witness the birth of a child and not be humbled by the majesty of God as He once again bestows life. We then witness children growing up, and so often we fail to appreciate the beauty of all the changes involved in their lives individually and in their family’s life as they change and mature. Maturity brings with it preparation for an ultimate independence as they make their way through life.
The joys experienced, achievements made, the challenges overcome, relationships formed and relationships lost all can join together to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. Some tapestries portray a life filled with hope, even when loss is very real and often repeated. Even when joy fades, failures disappoint, or life becomes uncertain, hope sustains. Lives filled with such hope portray a special beauty through all the seasons of life, and this beauty glorifies God and sustains a joy. Other tapestries seem to picture lives lived in hopelessness. These lives seem to be characterized by despair, often bitterness, emptiness, and a tragic self-focus.
Life is wonderful, but no life is free from loss—and all loss will cause a sense of grief for each one who has experienced it. What makes the difference between the two is the subject of many explanations, philosophical discussions, sermons, and thoughts. As I walked, I thought of those who had suffered recent loss and the words of our Lord echoed in my mind, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." The question is, “From where does this comfort come?” The Bible explains that hope is not only the basis for our endurance, but it is also the source of our comfort. For hope flows from the very nature of our Heavenly Father's love revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, who has loved us so much that He gave Himself for us.
Solomon wrote a truth thousands of years ago which is relevant to life for each of us today. After his reflection on almost every aspect of life he wrote, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind." To understand this ultimate truth about life is to be able to know the beauty and wonder of life and the comfort of our Heavenly Father's love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This leads me to once again encourage us to abide in Christ, for to abide in Christ is to know the hope of the very love of God. This hope reminds us of our purpose of life, and it provides the hope in the love of our Heavenly Father, which enables us to rejoice in life through all of its seasons and, yes, be comforted in our grief.
