a temporary goodbye

To my JF youth,

As you age and grow up, you learn that life is hard. People do not tell you, but you need to learn how to manage your time wisely. You need to learn how to enroll yourself in post-secondary courses. You need to learn how to please your boss and maintain peace with your colleagues. When you get married, you need to learn how to pay your bills and compromise with your spouse. The overwhelming responsibilities and expectations may be written in a dusty book that could be found in your local library, but there is often one that we forget. When you grow up, you need to learn how to come to terms with death. You will need to go to funerals, watch wooden caskets lowered into the cold ground and listen to eulogies. That is the reality of the world. Life is filled with peaks of joy, success and happiness, but also scattered with moments of brokenness, sadness and loss.

I know you are all learning to comprehend the loss of this young brother. As a counsellor, I just wanted you to know that the counsellors, adults, elders are mourning as well. Just because we have been to more funerals does not mean that we are “experienced” because loss is loss. However, we need to hold fast on the truth that a Christian’s death is a temporary goodbye. We need to declare that God remains to be a sovereign, loving God. We need to remember that He is in control because He created us from very beginning. He created a purpose in each of our lives and a limited time to deliver this purpose. The legacy and the message of someone’s life does not stop when the heart stops pumping blood, but it continues to pulse through the people they’ve encountered and impacted. The kingdom of God and your title as sons/daughters of God does not end on earth…but it is eternal. The temporary goodbye is a short intermission before we resume our jobs praising and glorifying the Father. Let us approach this goodbye with great expectation because one day, we will once again sing those VBC songs, enjoy God’s creation and run around God’s church together.

In the midst of sleepless nights and blank minds, unleash your emotions to the Father through whatever means you prefer. Journal or talk or pray in community or individually. Turn to Him because He provides true comfort and peace. Know that everyone’s definition of closure comes in different forms and at different places. In the pits of loss, God grants opportunities for community and bonds to be established. If you are comfortable, learn to bear each other’s burden because God created Christianity with community in mind.

Finally, I just wanted to tell you that I love you all so much. I am proud of how a lot of you work to place God first, seek answers and make Him your Lord. Every inch of your spiritual growth gives me great joy because it constantly reminds me that the Gospel has transformative powers and touches lives. The church that you have created friendships that are centered on leaning on one another and striving to hear His voice. I am proud of how some of you have become role models, examples of leadership and discipleship as the children learn to follow in your footsteps. Life is not easy. Loss is not easy to comprehend, but I feel the need to tell you that growing pains are not easy, but its pressure creates gems that have clarity in who God is, that shines to illuminate the Truth and that look like bearers of messages of grace.

~c.h.

p.s. I pray that you are inspired by those closest to this young brother, I mean the boys that are in his age. Their simple sharing and faith in God’s plan are commendable. As Jesus reminded us to acknowledge the children, be motivated to echo their declaration of Truth.