#Sacredness – I and Thou Reflections

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 8: A Time For Everything (8/8)

*Image Credit: Zaza Tepnadze found on Pinterest*

We have been on a quest to find the sacredness in tragedy. A mighty tall order, wouldn’t you say?

In the previous seven posts, we looked at tragic events and took deep dive into the meaning of righteousness and sacredness. Today, we will explore trauma.

The Miracle of Birth

For those of you who have given birth, or witnessed this, it is nothing short of miraculous. The experience of birth is sacred.

Babies

Babies are incredible. They have the tiniest toes and fingers. With bodies that almost fit in the palm of a hand. And eyes that may or may not be open. Yet, in a few days, babies start to gaze into their parent’s eyes with all the love in the world. They are truly a gift from God.

Life-and-death circumstances might make us question God’s omnipotence (the power of God), or God’s goodness. In other words, God’s willingness to prevent terrible things from happening. Such as when a baby is miscarried. Or stillborn. Or born less than perfect.

Parents may wonder “Where was God?”

“Why did this have to happen?”

Surely, God doesn’t create imperfect beings. God can’t take my baby away. Can he?

No Answers, Yet

We simply do not know. Maybe one day we will find out. But for now – for many of us – certainty is elusive.

Some of us may simply choose to trust that God is there. Some may be fortunate enough to feel God’s presence – even in the midst of suffering. While others may feel lost, or alone or even foresaken by God. During times of trial and tribulation we often experience a floodgate of emotions. We may feel that God is nowhere to be found. Yet, could it be that, even then, God is with us – even though we may not see it? Years later when we look back, we may discover that lessons have been learned, inner convinctions formed, and/or meaning found.

The next time you find yourself in the middle of a storm, can you imagine holding out your hand so God can grasp and hold it in his own?

Traumatic Events

Think back on your own life. Do you remember traumatic events from your childhood…or teenage years…or adulthood?

People often think of the big events. Yet seemingly smaller incidents can become a significant source of trauma as well. Like having best friends move away when you were a young child. Or perhaps there were times when you were bullied. Maybe you lost precious possessions such as a piece of jewelry, or had a favorite keepsake stolen from you at school. At the time, perhaps your emotions were strong or clouded your thinking. You might even have thought, “Why did God let this happen to me?”

Over time, however, we can learn from our experiences and reflect upon them. What lessons have we learned from the trauma or tragedy that we experienced? Have we become more compassionate? Have we devoted ourselves to a cause that is close to our hearts? Did you, for example, decide to become a doctor because you were once an accident-prone kid?

It may be that things happen for a reason, which, at first, we may not have understood. Maybe that is where the saying, “Time will tell,” comes from.

A Time for Everything

In life, there is death. Before death is life. Life begins at birth. Could it be that, after death there is eternal life?

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2a

Over the past few weeks, we have explored the question: Can sacredness be found in tragedy? As we move forward in life, may we be open-minded. May we love one another through all the facets of our lives, including the tragedies that come out of nowhere.

#Birth #Time #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 7: The Story of Bella Joy (Continued)

*Image Credit: “Womb Paradise” by Alex Florschutz from sistersawake dot org*

In Part 6, we learned a little about Miss Bella and her infant son who was born with a rare disease. This tragic circumstance was so unepected. No one saw it coming. We continue this story.

It’s Not Fair

After the initial shock wore off, Miss Bella may have thought:

It’s not fair to the baby.
It’s not fair to (us) the parents.
It’s not fair to (our other child) the sibling.
Life expectancy is short with this rare disease.

Why God? Why me?

Miss Bella felt so alone after her baby’s birth. (YouTube Video*)

After all, how would we feel if we were told our baby has a rare disease? Six months later, she put on a courageous face and filmed a YouTube video. Why? Because she didn’t want others to feel alone like her.

The Story of Bella Joy shows how an apparently uneventful pregnancy can yield a calamitous life-changing outcome. Miss Bella navigated through an unexpected situation as best she could. Then, this strong momma shared her experience with the world to give others hope and encouragement. Instead of dwelling on the negative, she found the strength to overcome her circumstances.

And, more importantly, to serve others.

Why is service so important?

Serving others reflects God’s love and fulfills the Biblical commandment that we love one another. If we focus on love and serving others, even in the midst of evil or heartbreak, that is where we find the sacred. It does not nullify – or remove – evil, tragedy, and human suffering. Rather it is precisely here, in the midst of catastrophe, that the sacred becomes manifest. This is where God is present – whether we see and sense him, or not. And this is why, even in the most terrible circumstances, people are able to find hope, offer love, and serve one another.

The next post will explore the cycle of life in the context of there being a time for everything. We will then wrap this series up on finding the sacredness in tragedy.

*YouTube dot come/watch?v=3Jc2w2eAhMc&t=21s

#Birth #NeonatalMarfan #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 6: The Story of Bella Joy

*Image Source: Creative Commons (Artist Unknown)*

Parts 1-5 focused on God’s love, compassion, and mercy, even amid tragedy.

Today, we will again ponder the many questions in life, starting with birth.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

The Story of Bella Joy

Bella Joy had an uneventful pregnancy. There was nothing out of the ordinary at any point in time during her pregnancy. All the precautionary prenatal care guidelines were followed. She even passed all the recommended tests with flying colors, including genetic testing. Still, she and her family prayed for a healthy baby.

The Eventful Delivery

Miss Bella had a delivery that went sideways. The soon-to-be mom, for the second time, had scheduled a C-section on August 3. Yet, the baby had different plans. Unexpectedly, this young woman went into spontaneous labor on August 2.

Her medical team was on board and ready to prep her for the C-section when she arrived at the hospital. Not long after, Miss Bella gave birth to a baby boy. She was on edge until she heard the sweet sound of her newborn cry. Within seconds, he did. The wail seemed to signal a healthy baby. She breathed a sigh of relief.

She remembers her doctor saying calmly, “Your baby is having difficulty breathing.” But because Miss Bella had heard the infant cry, she didn’t overthink what the doctor had said. The doctor did not sound alarmed. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. In fact, she remembered joking with the medical staff about there being a full moon that night.

In the meantime, five nurses and doctors were working on her baby. She didn’t realize the commotion had been about her baby. She hadn’t a clue. However, when the OR staff person wheeled her to the nursery, she sensed something was off. When she saw her husband, she knew something was dreadfully wrong.

At that moment, she learned that an infant can cry and still not be okay. “What could it be?” She asked herself. Her ultrasounds had been normal; and her pregnancy had been uneventful. She was not prepared for what was next.

Miss Bella’s son was born with Neonatal Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic disease. She wanted answers.

“Where was God?” “Why did this have to happen?”

In the next post, we will keep searching for answers.

#Birth #Neonatal Marfan #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 5: The Story of Noah (Continued)

Photo Credit: Ron Worobec (found on journal.burningman.org)

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
Proverbs 14:32

In our last post, we summarized the biblical story of Noah and the Ark. Today, we will reflect on the story to find the sacredness in the ancient event known as the Great Flood.

The Story of Noah provides a different snapshot of God.

The Heavens and the Earth

God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in between, and it was good. Then, humankind wandered away from God. Except for Noah. God rewarded his righteousness by saving Noah and his family from the flood.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

…At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down…

Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.”

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them,
“Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
Genesis 6:9, 8:3,15,16, 9:1

I Am God

God was in the tragedy as the conductor of the orchestra. In this case, God was the Giver and the Taker of life. He created humankind and wiped out the human race except for Noah and his family, for they re-populated the earth. A message was sent to the world: “I am God.”

Why Was Noah Saved?

He was righteous.

Noah, a man of unwavering righteousness, stood out among the people of his time. He walked with God, a living testament to his faith. In scripture, we see very few people explicitly identified as “righteous.” They included: Abel, Abraham Lot, David, John the Baptist, Cornelius the Centurion, Simeon, and Jesus. And even, Rahab the prostitute.

So, what is righteousness about?

Psalms and Proverbs, and other obscure passages offer insights about what it means to be “righteous.” Let’s read them…

The righteous give generously (Ps. 37:21) & without sparing (Prov. 21:26)
The righteous choose their friends carefully (Prov. 12:26)
The righteous see their ruin and rejoice (Job 22:19)
The righteous care for the needs of their animals (Prov. 12:10)
The righteous eat to their hearts content (Prov. 13:25)
The righteous shout for joy and are glad (Prov. 29:6)
The righteous care about justice for the poor (Prov. 29:7)
The righteous lead blameless lives (Prov. 20:7)
The righteous are as bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1)
The righteous stand firm (Prov. 10:25)
The righteous are rewarded with good things (Prov. 13:21)
The righteous hate what is false (Prov. 13:5)
The righteous detest the dishonest (Prov. 29:27)
The righteous attain life (Prov. 11:19)

The righteous will inherit the land (Psalm 37:29)
The righteous will rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 64:10)
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree (Psalm 92:12)
The righteous will never be shaken (Psalm 112:6)
The righteous will never be uprooted. (Prov. 10:30)
The righteous will thrive like a green leaf (Prov. 11:28)
The righteous will live by faith (Gal. 3:11)
The righteous will see their downfall (Prov. 29:16)
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:43)

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom (Psalm 37:30)
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11)
The lips of the righteous nourish many (Prov. 10:21)
The lips of the righteous know what finds favor (Prov. 10:32)
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers (Prov. 15:28)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life (Prov. 11:30)
The light of the righteous shines brightly (Prov. 13:9)
The path of the righteous is level (Isaiah 26:7)
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun (Prov. 4:18)
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16)

Did a shiver run down your spine as you read this list?

Fret not.

Here is another perspective to consider.

As the wise Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:20, “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, [there is] no one who does what is right and never sins.”

Instead of seeing some of these scriptures as contradictions, as I did at first, let us remember that the Bible was written by many people, each one with a different perspective. Their points of view differ from one another – anywhere from ever so slightly to clearly more boldly. We can glean one truth in all of this so far today.

To walk with God is to have faith in God, to do what is right when we can, and to live our lives with love toward ourselves and others. When we live in love, we cast out fear and anxiety. This allows God’s love to shine a light on our path.

Like Noah, we have a choice. We can walk faithfully with God. Or not. We can choose to believe in God or not.

In essence, Noah saved us all as the flood rid the earth of life (almost). If it weren’t for Noah’s walk with God, there would be no world as we know it today.

Therefore, the sacredness of Noah’s story lies in hope.

Hope

Hope that God will find favor with us.

Hope that God will save us from death.

And hope for everlasting life.

We can blame God for the flood. Or we can accept that tragedies are part of a bigger picture that we can’t comprehend—and trust God even so. This is called “faith.” And in faith, there is hope.

In part 6, we will continue to pursue finding the sacredness in tragedy.

#Noah #Flood #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 4: The Story of Noah

*Image Credit: https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-creation-new-creation/*

It is natural to question adversity, suffering and other overwhelming experiences. But maybe it is not so natural to question their sacredness. Is it?

If we truly are created in God’s image, then it makes sense to question God about our trials and tribulations as we go through life. People have been asking God such questions since the beginning of time.

What has Been Covered Thus Far

Part 1 discussed The Challenger disaster, which forever changed the lives and dreams of so many on that fateful day in January 1986. Part 2, the Story of Cain and Abel revealed a glimpse of God’s very nature. Part 3, we grappled with sacredness and how it fits into tragic events.

Today, we will peek at the story of Noah and continue to explore some of the questions we ask ourselves when tragedy strikes.

“Where was God?” and “Why did this have to happen?”

The Story of Noah

Most of us are familiar with Noah and The Flood. For those who aren’t, God instructed Noah to build a large boat (the Ark) and bring animals and his family into it when it was time. The rains came and flooded the land. The villagers and city dwellers alike perished, as did all other living things.

God had created the heavens, the earth, and everything in between, including the human race. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, tells us that God was pleased with all of it. Note that the story of creation is detailed in Genesis Chapter 1.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31

IT. WAS. VERY. GOOD. Or was it?

Then, in Genesis Chapter 4, we read story of Cain and Abel. Two chapters later, there is the story of Noah. So, we see the progression in the first few chapters. It is a downward spiral, if you will, that hit rock bottom with The Flood.

God was beginning to doubt what had been done. The Bible puts it more strongly, telling us: “the Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled” (Genesis 6:6). You can imagine the pain and suffering God experienced witnessing the intended GOOD that was slowly unraveling. Which revealed the EVIL that was ruining what he had created.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.
—But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:5, 8

Simply put, God wanted to wipe out the human race because the hearts of the humans became hardened and fell out of community with their Creator. Except for Noah, who was the one righteous man who acknowledged God’s sovereignty, ie: God’s wisdom, power, and authority over all creation. Noah remained true to God and was obedient to him. His building of the Ark, and its subsequent settling on Mount Ararat, saved humanity from the floodwaters of death.

A Rainbow

The story ended with a promise—a rainbow. God’s covenant promised never to destroy the entire planet again.

In Part 5, we will continue to search for the sacredness in tragedy by reflecting more on the Story of Noah.

#Noah #Flood #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 3: Cain & Abel (Continued)

*Image Credit: Creative Disciple Making by Jacob Abshire*

In Part 1, we explored the forever heartbreaking loss of lives and dreams in the Story of the Challenger. This story prompted us to identify two questions we often ask ourselves when tragedy strikes.

“Where was God?” and “Why did this have to happen?”

Then, in Part 2, we read a few sections of the biblical narrative of the Story of Cain and Abel. There, we saw Divine intervention. God spoke directly to Cain. We learned that Cain was angry, which led us to believe that anger impacted his decision to kill his brother. We don’t know whether Cain’s anger was toward God, his brother, or perhaps both. Part 2 ended with the tricky question, “Why did God let this happen?” We will use this question as a springboard to further explore the sacredness that is so often found in tragedy.

The Essence of Sacredness

Let’s begin with sacredness.

Sacredness is hard to describe. But I’ll give it a go. Sacredness is how we identify something or someone that has been touched, directly or indirectly, by the Divine or the Divine appointed, like angels.

Did you know there are one hundred twenty-six references to “sacred” in The Bible? Here are a few of the thirty-one words described as sacred:

Sacred Stones
Sacred Gifts
Sacred Anointing Oil
Sacred Food
Sacred Gems
Sacred Cities
Sacred Mountains

Sacredness has something to do with worship, reverence, and holiness. Let’s look at this passage where God talks to Moses.

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and Jacob.”
At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:5,8

Even tough the word “sacred” does not appear here, I would describe Moses’ experience as sacred. Would you? Moses was in God’s presence on Mount Sinai, where he stood on holy ground.

What Else is Sacred?

The Catholic Church has seven sacraments – Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Each of these experiences is sacred.

One might say that sacredness is part of the whole.

It is in life. It is in death.

And it is everything in between.

Sacred Ground

Sacredness lies within each of us.

Our ancestors made it possible for us to be on this earth. Whether we remember one, two, or three generations, they have influenced us. Their sacrifices were for us to have the life we have today. Let that sink in.

Their final resting place is on sacred ground. Why? Inside each of us is a tiny part of God. God is holy, and hence, by the laws of genetics, we are sacred, too.

Probing Questions

“Where does the sacredness reside in this story of Cain and Abel?”

What can we learn from this?

This story tells us the very nature of God. It is a snapshot from birth to death.

God creates Adam and Eve.
Eve gives birth to two sons.
God rejects Cain’s offering.
Cain murders Abel.
Cain lies to God.
God gives grace to Cain and shows him mercy.

Embracing the Mystery

Despite life’s adversities and unanswered questions, we find solace in God’s presence. Knowing God is with us in our trials and tribulations gives us peace. When we mourn, God mourns. When we are joyful, God is joyful. How we see God is how others see us. Let that sink in. Pause to reflect on that.

Like the birds in the air, God feeds them. And we are more valuable than birds. (Matthew 6:26)

As we reflect on family tragedies, The Challenger disaster, and other calamities, may we ask God to take away our pain and sorrow as we grapple with these life-and-death questions.

Our human mind can’t fully understand the Divine, and that is okay. That is where the sacredness lies. A mystery, if you will. Continue to ask questions. The very question of existence may just reveal itself to you.

In Part 4, we will look at the Story of Noah through the eyes of the sacredness of tragedy.

#Cain&Abel #Sacredness #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 2: Cain & Abel

*Image Found: haelantherapies.com (Source Unknown)*

When adversity strikes, the wounds can be deep.

Today, we will examine the questions we might ask ourselves when tragedy attacks.

In the face of such pain, people find themselves grappling with profound questions such as:

“Where was God?” and “Why did this have to happen?”

Every day, lives and dreams disappear in the twinkling of an eye. In Part 1, we saw how they disappeared the moment the O-rings failed following the launch of the Challenger space shuttle.

Life is truly short.

We turn now to the Old Testament.

The Story of Cain and Abel

Two brothers.
One jealous.
One not.
One life.
One death.

In the fourth chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we learn of the tragic tale of Adam and Eve’s family. They have two sons, Cain and Abel. Then, one day, in a fit of jealousy, Cain kills his brother Abel.

Let’s read a few verses.

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Genesis 4:3-5

“Where was God?” and “Why did this have to happen?”

We really don’t know. Cain may have felt God’s absence, which may have fueled the fire. Yet, there is no doubt that Cain was angry. But we don’t know how furious he was or what type of anger management issues he may have had.

Which brings us more questions than answers.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
Genesis 4:9-10

After God asks Cain what he has done, Cain lies. God banishes Cain from his presence and makes him a wanderer. And that is the end of the story.

So, these questions remain:

Where was God when Cain killed Abel?
Why did God let this happen?
Where is the sacredness in this story?

Like in all tragedy, God is there. Right? I tend to think, yes. Yet, many people may feel that God is no where to be found during difficult times. This theme will be woven throughout this series. In this Story of Cain and Abel, God was in the midst. Smack in the middle! As we see in the dialogue between God and Cain.

Another compelling question to consider, not listed above, in the Cain and Abel story is: “What made one offering more acceptable to God than the other?” This question might get at the heart of the matter, “Why did God let this happen?” Perhaps God’s favoritism toward Abel was the trigger for his murder.

Favoritism

If you ask siblings if their parents had a favorite, I’m pretty sure most of the time, a sibling would be able to “name” the favorite. It could be the oldest, the youngest, or the one who was the most “obedient” child. But let’s flip this a bit. How would you feel if you weren’t the favorite? Pause and think about it.

Before we leave the hot topic of “favorites,” consider this: How would you feel if God favored someone over you? This situation seems to take it up a notch, doesn’t it? And, in a roundabout way, it brings us back to one of the initial questions.

A Tricky Question

“Why did God let this happen?” A tricky question, for sure. Why does God let any tragedy happen? Cain could have been pissed off at God. He didn’t have to kill his brother, did he? It’s complicated. Clearly, we don’t have all the facts.

In the next few posts, we will continue to search for the sacredness that is either in or emerges from tragedy. Hang in there, dear reader, Part 3 will shed more light. I promise.

#Cain&Abel #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions

Finding the Sacredness in Tragedy – Part 1: The Challenger

*Image Credit: Abstract Sunrise Space Wallpaper 1920×1080* (*Pixelstalk dot net*)

In the next few posts, we will explore the concept of sacredness and how it can be found in the very essence of tragedy. In accidents, calamities, or vicious crimes, we, as people made in the image of God, have the free will to respond in any way we wish. As children of God, however, there is hope in the trials set before us.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”
Jesus, The Gospel According to John, 16:33

The Challenger

Most of us are familiar with the tragedy of The Challenger. Thousands watched it launch in person that day. And millions more watched it in real-time or on the news after the fact. Seventy-three seconds after lift-off, plumes of smoke spiraled downward from the sky.

It was a chilly day in January 1986 in Cape Canaveral, FL. It was so cold that frost covered the aircraft. One of the reasons that the space shuttles launch in Florida and Texas is their warm weather patterns. But in January 1986, Florida had an unusual cold snap. The weather had broken all previous records for low temperatures.

One might ask, why would temperature be so important? Well, it had to do with the 0-rings. Or, more generally, its nuts and bolts. The 0-rings had a specific temperature range for optimal success. Cold temperatures would cause the metal to respond more slowly. Or fail, as it did for The Challenger.

Lives and Dreams

Each of the seven crew members lost their life that day. It was a tremendous loss.

Let’s take a moment of silence to honor these brave souls.

Michael J. Smith, Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, S. Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, Judith A. Resnik

Mike, Dick, Ron, Ellison, Christa, Greg, and Judy were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends. And now they are gone.

Not one person would argue that they left this earth too soon, leaving their loved ones to grieve this unimaginable loss. Each of these individuals was living their dream—the dream of space travel.

Lives and dreams forever lost.

Have you lost special people in your life? Or dreams that can no longer be realized?

Next time, we will explore the questions of “Where was God?” and “Why did this have to happen?” “This” can be applied to many situations and circumstances. Stay with me, and you’ll see how God can transform tragedies into hope.

#TheChallenger #Sacredness #WhereWasGod #Tragedy #LifeQuestions