The Sigh of Sorrow

A few weeks ago -- probably by now, it's been a couple of months ago, a friend died.  She had had cancer for years, and had fought it the whole time.  She called it her "journey."  Her faith became evident during her journey -- whether it grew as she traveled the road or the light of the journey highlighted it, I don't know. 

There came a time when all of us at church realized that her journey would not end with physical healing, but would be what we call "terminal."  I think that realization came to me when Hospice was called in, but she lived in Hospice care for many months (at her home).

We probably wouldn't have been friends, except we were in the same reunion group, and you get to know people when you share your faith. 

Her journey took her through death, and many people said that it was a blessing.

Today in worship, Jack talked about sorrow.  He talked about the sigh of sadness, and how it can be a gift from God.  Without the sorrow, without the realization of loss, resurrection has no meaning. 

I think we might have to pass through the sorrow before we can reach the joy of resurrection.  Even when death is a "blessing" - when it is the end of a long journey through cancer -- or Alzheimer's -- or suffering -- those of us here have to go through the sadness before we reach the realization of the blessing -- the resurrection. 

I can know the death ends the suffering, but that doesn't mean I can skip the sadness.  It's there, too.