The Morning Fog
May 24, 2008 Print This Post
Last week, Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman’s 5 year old daughter died when she was accidentally run over in her own driveway.
It was heartbreaking to many people around the world.
This morning, my friend Susan died unexpectedly of an infection that hit her bloodstream. She was only 30 and left behind a husband and 2 year old son. I spent the whole morning with her husband who is “feeling lost.”
It was heartbreaking to me personally.
I can’t help but think of this verse:
James 4:14
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Chapman’s family is different this week than it was last week. Susan’s family is, too. This is the nature of the world we live in.
And now, I’m sitting alone in a restaurant trying to process all of this. I have to deal with it now because in less than two hours, I’ll be performing a wedding for some other friends. Then tomorrow, another wedding. I have to pull out of sorrow to celebrate joyfully with these two couples. .
Oddly, my greatest source of comfort are the words of Susan’s husband. To each person who came by the hospital today, this “lost” man said the same thing:
“God knows what he is doing. Susan and I met fast, fell in love fast, had a kid fast. Now I know why…God knew this was coming and he wanted us to have this short time together, because he knew it was all the time we had.”
Wow. What an example of a man who is both grieving and standing firm in his faith in God’s sovereignty. His words also strike me in another way. Susan, knowing I was teaching on homosexuality a couple months ago, volunteered to share her story at Riv. I asked her, “are you sure?”
Her response?
“I think that God wants me to tell my story now. I don’t know why, but I am convinced this is the right time.”
It was indeed the right time. For those of you who missed it, here it is:
Have fun with Jesus, Susan. Thanks for sharing your life and story with us.
We’ll see you soon.
Isaiah 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
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