Here is my twentieth reflection for the church E-news. I think most of us are really grappling with the problems of COVID
which seem never-ending. This quote of faith really hit home for me and I hope it helps all of you too! The picture is of my Alaskan cruise.
I was watching Joe Biden talking to the TV host Stephen Colbert recently. Both of these men have suffered unimaginable tragedies. Stephen Colbert lost his father and two brothers in a plane crash at age 10. Joe Biden lost his wife and daughter in a car crash, while his two young sons were severely injured when he was a young senator. One of his surviving sons passed away 5 years ago from vicious cancer.
Stephen asked the former vice president how he survived his losses, and Mr. Biden revealed it was his faith. He mentioned one of his favorite quotes was, “Faith sees best in the dark.” He also repeated this passage in his acceptance of the nomination for President at the Democratic convention.
This quote comes from the theologian Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1955). It appears in his 1847 book (yes that long ago) Uplifting Discourses in Various Spirits and is on suffering.
No one can even comprehend the loss of a child unless it happens to them. This is grief beyond description. It is too unfair – the parent is not supposed to live longer than the child which is a basic law of nature. There is nothing to say to someone who has lost a child except that you are sorry and there to listen – not to talk but to listen.
Every parent reacts in their way. Joe Biden chose to move on. One never gets over it but just moves on. He continued public service and said Beau asked him to continue in public service after he was gone because he knew he was going to die.
During this pandemic, many people are suffering from unspeakable losses all over the world. Some have lost family members, often more than one. Others have a loss of income, suffering food insufficiency. And some people no longer have a roof over their heads. People are mourning being unable to visit their loved ones in nursing homes. Others are separated by many miles and are not able to fly to see beloved children and grandchildren. There are smaller, but still significant losses of freedom to travel, move around, and go out to eat, or even shop. We are in dark days indeed. Those of us with a church family are fortunate because we have each other. However, we still are unable to meet for services, and this is another tough change. We still surround each other with love and respect. We reach out and help each other with errands, cards, e-mails, and phone calls. We tell each other it will get better, while our faith is being forced to grow. And we grasp that faith brings light to the darkness and know it will be bright and shiny once again. Jesus reminds us of this when he says “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? “ Matthew 6:30 (NRSV)