Last week, I told you about my friends from the church where I grew up in Baton Rouge, whose parents had both died of Covid within a few days of each other. A strange and sad tale to be sure, yet one with an element of joy at the faith displayed by my friends during those difficult days.
Today’s story of Covid raises only questions. On Thanksgiving Day, we received the news of the death of another member of that church. This time, however, was different. The man who died was only 35 years old. He left behind a wife and three young children. He had been a missionary in Honduras. When he became ill, he was working among the desperately poor in Baton Rouge, addressing their needs for food and shelter, and sharing with them the love and grace of Jesus.
As a boy, he and his parents lived a stone’s throw from my house. The family would be considered one of the “pillars” of that church. The father is now one of the elders there.
I knew this young man’s parents long before he was born. I even knew both of his grandfathers. One attended church with us here a few times late in his life, and the other was instrumental in establishing a wonderful Bible Quiz Bowl Tournament in Gretna, my participation in which helped establish a solid foundation of Bible knowledge that has served me well in all the years since those days.
And sure, as you can imagine, the deep faith of this family, and of their Faith Family, is showing through in many wonderful ways. But still, there are, and will always be, questions. “WHY”? Why him? Why such a young man? Why such a gifted man? Why take a man whose life was so clearly and obviously centered on Jesus and on others? Why take this man away from those who need him? Why deprive The Earth of one who was so committed to The Kingdom of God? Was he exposed to Covid while doing Kingdom work? How could God allow that to happen? Why didn’t God answer the many and fervent prayers to heal him? How will his family ever face another “Thanksgiving Day”?
I have no answers.
Having no answers can be a dark place to stand. The darkness of this tragedy is multiplied by the countless other stories of loss and sorrow that have overwhelmed us during this hard year.
The darkness of this time makes me especially thankful for the Season of Advent. The promise of Advent was spoken of by one of God’s prophets in this way: “The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:2.
This is really what Advent is all about – the waiting, the anticipation, the longing – the hope that the darkness will be dispelled, the hope that something better is coming. Advent is about knowing that God promised, and made good on his promise of a new and better King, and so the arrival of this King is something to be celebrated. And Advent is about the hope – no, the confident expectation - that God will certainly make good on His promise that The King will return and make all things right, and make all things new. Advent is a much-needed reminder that God doesn’t simply sit in Heaven, neither knowing nor caring about the darkness of this world. Instead, He comes to meet us in, and bring light to, the dark, grief-stricken reality of this world – “God with us”.
No, I have no answers to difficult questions. All I have is the light of the hope of this wonderful Season of Advent.
Aren’t you ready for some light?
~Shepherd Ambrose Ramsey
