Thursday was one of those days—a deep-breathing kind of day. It was not because life was overwhelming but because every transition I made in the day caused me to marvel at the mystery of God at work.
Heather and I started with breakfast with a dear friend who lost his wife 15 months ago. We met to listen to his reflections on Heather’s question: How can we best support someone who has just lost someone close? He came with such honest answers and experiences. It was a breakfast of profound impact, listening to how God provides amid grief and heartache and provides comfort and release.
Then Heather and I met with a dear woman with ALS. We were in a warm room on a sunny day since her medication caused her to be cold. We were privileged to listen to her story, to engage in her struggles, to hold her concerns, and to invite her to trust us with the vulnerable spaces of her heart. The disease is cruel and unforgiving. This woman has so much courage. As we walked away, my heart felt stuck wondering why, at 54, my body has had issues that can all be addressed, and a dear 50-year-old in front of me has lost the use of arms and legs and will have continual decline. The mystery of God felt so all-consuming.
Then we met with a rugged, compassionate 88-year-old tender-hearted fellow who enjoys life, but as he was sharing with us, he became overtaken with emotion. The small cross on his wall, the cross he sees every day, reminds him of his wife, who died almost six years ago. The simplicity, the richness, and the meaning of this cross remind him every day of amazing grace. We talked about living in a broken world and the powerful anticipation of eternity in heaven. Oh, the mystery of God.
It was a good day!