Remembrance

For some reason (some might call it chance, but I believe it to be far more directed than that), my thoughts have been drawn to this year’s anniversary of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.  I felt led to pen a prayer that spoke to the significance of the event, both then and now.  It wasn’t until after I’d written it, though, that I recognized the confluence of this year’s anniversary with Good Friday, the day on which Christ Jesus was crucified.

As I thought about the combination of events, I reread my prayer and was struck by how its themes were equally fitting for Good Friday.  Both events mark tragic and horrific events.  In both cases, innocent lives were taken by evil.  And in both situations, God’s love and power triumphed over that evil – more visibly on the Sunday after Good Friday, perhaps, but with equal certainty following the Oklahoma City bombing.

Then it occurred to me that the hope and conviction arising from the tragedy of the bombing were possible only because of the resurrection – the ultimate demonstration of God’s power over death and destruction.  Without that, how could we find hope in the rubble?  Without it, in what could we place our faith?  In the absence of God’s victory, there would be no possibility of renewal, of growth, of life.

But He IS victorious!  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (I Cor. 15:55)  That victory, HIS victory, offers hope where there is none.  Without ever ignoring the pain and sorrow, the suffering and sacrifice, it affords peace even in the horror of murder and destruction, both on Golgotha and in Oklahoma City. 

May this year’s remembrance – of both Christ’s crucifixion and the bombing – remind each of us of God’s ultimate power over evil and death.  May the sorrow and tragedy serve to remind us that there is more, so much more, yet to come.

A Prayer of Remembrance
On the 24th Anniversary of the Bombing of Oklahoma City’s Murrah Federal Building

Lord, we pause this morning to remember those lost on this day so many years ago.  We remember those, too, who were injured, whether in body, in spirit, or both.  

But, Lord, as we remember, may we respond, not in fear, but in faith.  Not simply in horror, but with hope.  Hope that reminds us that no matter how hard, how tragic, or how overwhelming our days may be, there is another day coming – A day in which You will wipe away all tears and evil will be banished forever. 

So, Lord, we remember the events of April 19, 1995.  But keep us mindful, as well, of Your promise still to be fulfilled.  In it may we find the strength for this, and each, day ahead. 

In the overcoming name of Jesus Christ, we pray. 

Amen.

Loosening My Grip

Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s human nature, but I’ve noticed a real tendency in myself to hold onto the things I like.  Whether it be people, situations, circumstances, things, whatever, if I like it, I don’t want to let it go, sometimes to a fault.

Now, there are some things that are worth holding onto, things I ought to hold onto.  I think of my faith, my marriage, my family and friends.  These are important, even foundational, to who I am and who I want to become.  How healthy is it, though, to cling tightly to these simply because of what I gain from them or how they make me feel?  Can I cling too tightly, or for the wrong reasons, to the right things? Do I need to reconsider not only what, but how I hold, those things I deem important?

Lord willing, my wife and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer, and we dated for five-and-a-half years before that.  We truly were just kids when we met, 15 and 16 years old (though wisdom dictates I don’t tell you who was which).  Over the years, we’ve encountered our share of circumstances and events that have caused us to hold tightly to one another.

Can I cling too tightly, or for the wrong reasons,

to the right things?

Early in our relationship, our youth pastor shared an illustration that spoke deeply to us.  He took a pencil in hand and began to write.  As he wrote, he challenged me to grab the pencil out of his hand.  It came right out.  I returned the pencil to him, and he began to write again.  On his cue, I tried to take it back.  This time, though, he held it so tightly I couldn’t pull it loose.  He won…or did he?  What I hadn’t realized was that he also held it so tightly he could barely write with it.  He held it so tightly that he wasn’t able to use it for its intended purpose. The challenge for us was to consider whether or not our burgeoning relationship, focusing so tightly on one another, was keeping us from being/doing that to which God was calling each of us.

Is it possible to cling so tightly to the things I know and love that I squeeze the meaning or the purpose out of them?  That I squeeze the life out of them?  As we considered our youth pastor’s challenge, we became convinced that God was calling us to commit our lives both to Him and to one another.  The clear lesson, however, was that we could never allow ourselves to be so consumed with one another that we neglected those God put around us. 

Is my relationship with God ultimately about me

or about the person and nature of God?

So, is it possible to hold too tightly or for the wrong reasons?  I believe it is.  If my wife and I had tried to cling to that high school relationship we so enjoyed back then, we wouldn’t know and love the people we’ve become so many years later.  And my faith in God?  While God hasn’t changed, my understanding of God has changed immeasurably as I’ve allowed him to change me.  Had I held rigidly only to what I knew early on, I wouldn’t be who I am today.  And when it comes down to it, is my relationship with God ultimately about me or about the person and nature of God?

My wife and I were recently challenged to let go of a congregation and a small-group we’d been part of for several years.  God was leading us to accept a leadership role at another church, and, as much as we wanted to do that, we didn’t want to let go of what we knew and loved.  Our church and our small-group had been incredible blessings through some very trying circumstances. 

As we followed our understanding of God’s call, though, we were reminded of that illustration from our youth pastor.  If we chose to hold tightly to what we knew, what we had, what we loved, how much might we miss?  As teens, it was by loosening the grip on our relationship with each other that we experienced the fullness of our relationship today.  If we held too tightly to our small-group and our church, what might we miss by failing to step out into the future God has laid-out ahead of us?  

As I reflect on all of this, I have to wonder if there are other things in my life I hold too tightly.  What about you?  Are there things in your life you hold too tightly or for the wrong reasons? 

Maybe it’s you.  Maybe it’s me.  Maybe it’s all of us.