We've all lost someone, or something. None of us remain untouched by the sorrows of death, even if we somehow think that our loss might not be as life-shattering as the next guy's.
We have a guest in our home right now, and he was sharing the most incredible things last night. He recounted how approximately fifteen years ago, he went to a home-schooling gathering to pick up a bunch of children for a time at the gym, and was met by several frazzled mothers. Not thinking anything about it, he joked that if he didn't know better, he'd think they were upset at him. It turns out, they weren't upset, they were worried... for him. The police were trying to get a hold of him, his family was in an accident, and all sorts of doctors were trying to reach him. He rushed in the building to call the doctors. It started out with mostly good news--his son was being released right then. The next doctor reported that his wife and one of his girls were both in surgery, more news later. The last doctor had news about one of his other girls. The doctor had never seen someone survive an injury like that before.
Our friend described how awful it all was; how difficult those moments were. As he was leaving a few of the mothers offered to go with him, or drive him, or help somehow. He wanted to go alone, he told them, but he was very thirsty, and could someone bring him something to drink?
"Can you imagine what would have compelled someone, in my moment of grief, to bring me some vinegar to drink?" He asked us last night.
That's when I started crying. Not just because I know the family, and know the twin of the girl who ended up dying in that accident, but because he made such a good point. To think that Christ, in His moments of suffering, had been brought vinegar to quench his thirst. The disregard of the world, having nothing but thorns and nails to offer, stooped to a place that wouldn't allow the simple kindness of water to quench His thirst. The Man Who was the Living Water was made like the scum of the earth by dying on the cross.
Puts it in perspective, doesn't it?
No comments:
Post a Comment