2011


“. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James


2011 has arrived. Did you “stay up” as many do to see the clock turn to 12am on the eve of the New Year? It seems as if we stand at the doorway to greet the new arrival, hoping that if we are kind to it as it arrives maybe it, in turn, will be kind to us. After all, many of us have seen several (speaking of myself of course) of these new years come into our lives and with every one we say a little prayer asking for them to be kind. We hope and pray that each New Year will be filled with more blessings and less disasters.

Five years ago we did this very same ritual. When 2006 came to our doorway to join us, we prayed that it would be a blessed year. But for Phil and Lisa and their family and Carol and me and our family (and many others) 2006 was not kind at all. Five years ago today (January 5) Lisa’s husband Phil was taken to his eternal home where he is now with his Heavenly Father forevermore. Everything we know about Heaven tells us that it is an amazing place where our joy is complete, but I’m sure Phil would have preferred to have been allowed to spend a longer lifetime with his precious wife and his wonderful three children, all who were obviously his pride and joy.

Prior to 2006, I would say I didn’t know death. I wasn’t that familiar with it, not in an intimate way. After 2006 I would have to say that I am far too familiar with it. I hate it, it stinks, etc, etc. As Dad VH said, not so long ago, death is so disruptive. It takes a beautiful young family, with a future as bright as the stars and puts a big black hole in it. It changes every thing. Why God?? Why allow this?? Death almost always leads us to question God and his love.

Without getting real religious here trying to explain the why’s, I just want to say that God hates it too, probably more than we can imagine. I love this quote taken from a book I read some time ago. It hit me then as right on the mark, “. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James

I pray that whatever happens in 2011, a year sure to be filled with “arrivals and departures”, a year sure to be filled with good things and bad things, that I/you/we can remember that death and suffering were never God’s idea, that life and love and peace are. Phil, Carol and perhaps someone you have loved and lost know that to be true so much more so than those of us who “linger” here on earth.

Blessings to you in this year we call 2011. . .