I Hate Death

A friend from my youth passed away this weekend.  Another was buried Monday.  That makes four deaths of guys from my high school and college days in the last four weeks.  Not to make light of the situation but I’m starting to understand why one of my former church members told me he got to the place in life where he began each day reading the obituaries and if he didn’t see his name listed, it was a good day.  While I always like to look for humor in every situation but there is nothing funny about death and funerals.  No matter the situation, whether the deceased was young or old, the passing sudden and unexpected or anticipated from a lengthy sickness; even among people of strong faith there is always a family or loved ones who are heartbroken.  There is no getting around the sadness of death. 

I hate death!  I always have.  I still remember my first experience with death.  I was in elementary school and Jim, my beloved German shepherd who was my companion and protector, was hit by a passing car.  He was gravely injured but managed to make it back to the back porch where my father told me that he was hurt too badly there was nothing we could do for him but be with him.  Although that was nearly 60 years ago I am still emotionally moved remembering Jim’s big brown eyes looking at me as I sat with him while he breathed his last.  

Since then I have experienced the loss of friends and family on many occasions.  As a minister I have been at the bedside with those passing from this life and tried to comfort their loved ones.  I have also had to be the calm in the emotional storm created by tragic accidental deaths.   While I did my best in each funeral or death experience, I never liked dealing with death.  I have hated death since it took Jim away from me as a child.  Although I offered and sought comfort from God’s word and the grace of Christ I still have always hated the separation that death caused. 

I don’t apologize for my hatred of death; in fact I am in good company with that emotion.  Jesus didn’t care for death either.  If you look you, as I have, you will find that he ruined every funeral he encountered.  He called Lazarus out of the grave, raised the widow’s son from Nain, as well as the daughter of Jairus.  Can you imagine the conversation of funeral directors when they heard Jesus was coming?  “Be sure to get them to sign the ‘no refund’ clause since Jesus is in town!”  He is the only person in history who ‘borrowed’ a tomb.  He didn’t need it very long, one weekend was enough. 

His encounter with the death of Lazarus in John 11 gives insight into the feelings he had for death.   John 11:33 & 38 describe Jesus as “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” ‘Deeply moved’ comes from the Greek word, embrimáomai which means "to snort" – properly, snort like an angry horse; (literally) "snort (roar) with rage" which expresses strong indignation, i.e. deep feeling that is moved to sternly admonish. And ‘troubled’ is from the Greek, tarassō meaning; to agitate, trouble, cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, and disturb his composure. Jesus was clearly upset.  Verse 35 is the only time in the Bible where Jesus is described as weeping.  It is also the shortest verse in the Bible (hey, if you are going to memorize scripture you gotta start somewhere). So while Jesus was saddened with the death of his friend he was chiefly agitated and angry at death.  Jesus hated death.  He contrasted his purpose with the author of death in John 10:10; “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

An abundant life does not necessarily mean a long life.  A recent study showed that stubborn people actually lived longer.  I have known some people who lived a long time but spent most of that time being stubborn, angry, mean and bitter.  I heard it said about one person that they didn’t die but just ‘meaned’ away.  Randy Pausch, the author of The Last Lecture, said it this way, “We don't beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully." 

Subsequently the best way to live a full life is not found in the; “Me first, It’s my life and I’m looking out for #1, I’m going to do whatever I want to do” attitude that much of the world adopts.  That attitude actually causes the agony or ‘sting of death’ referred to in I Corinthians 15:56.  Death has a sting, which touches all sorts of persons, young and old, rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; it gives bitterness, agony, and misery as a poisonous and venomous sting.  And the only way to remove the venomous sting comes from following the life of Jesus.  He did not live long but look at what he did with his time on earth.  He loved everyone he met.  He forgave those who mistreated him.  He helped everyone who allowed him to do so.  Although he could have rightfully claimed superiority, he never put himself above others instead he humbly looked to serve everyone he encountered.  He never avoided God wanted him to do…even when it was difficult or caused personal suffering.  He then used the suffering he experienced to benefit those around him. 

So while it is ok to hate and be angry with death, don’t get stuck there.  What is the best way to deal with that emotion since death cannot be avoided?  Well, other than being more careful, I don’t want to go out too soon from doing something stupid…you do know the last words of a redneck are; “Hey y’all, watch this!”  I like to stick my finger in the eye of death by laughing and having as much fun each day as I can.  I try to live each day with gratitude, joy and love enjoying each breath of this fragile, precious and fleeting life as my revenge against death.  Follow the teaching and pattern of Jesus as you love everyone you encounter, forgive those who are hardest to love putting your feelings aside while you seek to do what God put you here at this moment to do!

The Invisible Man

In my youth I loved super hero comics.  I would imagine how great it would be to have super powers like The Flash, Batman or Superman.  Wow, think about what it would be like to run faster than the speed of light, leap tall buildings with a single bound, fly or catch a bullet in your teeth.  Well it has taken a lifetime but I have made it.  No, I can’t run as fast as The Flash or fly like Superman.  I don’t even look that great in blue leotards but that is another story.  

I have recently discovered that I have the same super powers as The Invisible Man.  Yes, that’s right; I can become invisible to those around me.  Let me give you a couple of recent examples.  I was in the grocery store and even without super human peripheral vision I noticed a woman rapidly approaching on my right side.  She was pushing her shopping cart right at me at a rapid pace.  Although I was right in her path to the lunch meat counter I realized that she did not see me.  At the last minute, to keep from being run over, I had to jump out of the way.  I thought she would then look at me and apologize but she never looked at me as she grabbed the desired processed meat that had her been the object of her full attention.  And that is when I realized I had moved into the world of super heroes.  I had become invisible!

My recently acquired super power not only works in the grocery store.  I have learned that I can transfer my power of invisibility to my car.  Batman may have the cool Batmobile but I can make myself and my car invisible.  I was recently approaching an intersection where I had the right-of-way.  There was a stop sign for the traffic on the road to my right and left so I enter the intersection at normal driving speed.  Suddenly I realize that the car entering the intersection on my right was not stopping.  My car and I had clearly become invisible.  I slammed on the brakes and gave my usual gesture before I truly realized my super power; you know the one where you throw up both hands indicating, “Did you not see me?”  In that moment I learned several things about my newly discovered super power.  First, I don’t need to use that gesture any longer since it is clear that I have truly become invisible.  Second, I can also transfer my power of invisibility to my car.  And finally, sort of like the way Kryptonite drains the powers of Superman, I learned that throwing up my hands giving the “Am I invisible?” gesture immediately removes the power of invisibility.  The other motorist saw me as soon as I gestured and gave me another universal gesture that cannot be used during the family hour. 

After much consideration of my new found super power of invisibility I began to realize that it may be more of a reflection on the current status of the human race than a super human power that I have developed.   To my disappointment I began to realize that I have not developed a new super power as much as we have moved into the ‘Selfie Age’.  We are living in a time where people are more concerned and consumed with themselves than any other time in history.  We take numerous pictures of ourselves when we used to take pictures of other people and other things.  We are often so focused and consumed with our feelings, our thoughts and our desires that the other people around us do, in fact, frequentlybecome invisible. 

This discovery frightened me because it is 180 degrees opposite from the way God intends us to live.   Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” God is telling us that the spiritually mature way to live is to consider those around you with love and compassion as you give their interests more concern than those of yourself. 

Whether we are talking about a family member, co-worker or stranger we may encounter in the store or on the highway the best way to live is to consider their interests above our own.  Take time to slow down and look at the people around you.  No matter how they may be dressed or act they, like you, are “fearfully and wonderfully made” according to Psalm 139:14.  When you slow down and consider everyone around you as a unique and wonderful creation of God you will never see anyone as invisible, irrelevant or unimportant.  I have to admit that it was a disappointment to discover that I had not really developed a super power.  However, I think I have discovered something more powerful.  When you take time to look for the ‘wonderfully made’ uniqueness of each person you encounter and you will be glad they are no longer invisible. In fact, you may discover that those around you can add quality to your life as you are enriched by being kind to one another and make new and wonderful relationships. 

There is no better time of the year than now to realize what George Bailey learned when Clarence told him, “Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.”  If you don’t know who or what I am talking about just watch "It's A Wonderful Life" during one of the many times it is shown on TV during the Christmas season.  All lives are important and connected, again as Clarence taught George Bailey; “Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

No one is meant to be invisible to his fellow man.  In fact, God created us to enrich the lives of those around us.  Why else would he make so many of us with everyone being a special and unique creation?  The more we focus on seeing, loving and caring for those around us as unique creations of the same God who loved and created us the more we will see them as He does and become more of who He created us to be…and that is really the greatest super power that anyone can have.