Amen

The flag-draped caskets arrived today.

Inside were shells, remnants of people who loved and were loved. Sparks of mischief, roaring laughter, bitter tears, tender embraces—only memories of these are left behind.

Oh, God, how can the memory-bearers carry on? How do their hearts keep beating in the face of such loss?

Only in You.

I think of my own husband and our children and grandchildren and try to occupy the hearts of those whose loved ones have been silenced. I cannot. I will not, for even imagining such pain singes my soul. To stand in the middle of such a fire is incomprehensible.

I refuse to judge them if they rail at You for allowing the people they cherished to be taken. Taken as they were reaching out to help the helpless. Sweet Jesus, it makes no sense.

And yet.

Where can we turn, if not to You?

We seek solace from friends and family in times of trouble. And this is good, for You want us to have fellowship with others. But no person can offer a perfect refuge, for we are all imperfect.

Each time our hearts and minds flail about, desperately grasping for meaning, we crash into You. You are not at the center of things. You are the Center. When we are spent, beaten down by our sorrows, we hear You whisper Your Name: I AM.

We reach a point where acceptance is our only option.

I don’t know why You allow evil to prevail sometimes. However, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25. (ESV)

Evil does win an occasional battle. But You will win the war.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

Finally, Father, please pour out Your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding, on the family and friends of these servicemembers:

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. 

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska. 

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.  

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California. 

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California. 

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.

In Jesus’s Name I pray,

Amen.

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine, U.S.