by Chris Alexion, Copyright January 26, 2007, all rights reserved. 169 views
One year ago today, my church–Immanuel Free Reformed, in central Pennsylvania–lost fifteen-year-old Ethan Embree on Maryland's Elk River. When his family and church lost this son, brother, and friend, we felt grief. Death had robbed us of a young life. But we also came to see something else as the whole congregation drew closer to Ethan's family as a result. We grieved, but not as those who have no hope.
As Jon Foreman and Switchfoot point out in the powerful song "Yesterdays," the most bitter part of losing someone is the finality of letting go. "I remember you like yesterday, yesterday / I still can't believe you're gone." Yet somehow the survivors have to carry on in the absence of those they lose; "Yesterdays" reminds us that our loved ones would want it this way. We still have life left in us.
The ground of our hope in the face of death is the resurrection. Not only are our loved ones "free," as Foreman sings, but we will see them again, and their bodies will be raised from the earth. This is the Christian hope, and this is why, though we sorrow, we don't lose heart.
1 • LHR • January 26, 2007 • 7:49 PM
Thanks, Chris, that was great.
Birth and death, the cycles of life on this earth….
2 • J.J. • January 28, 2007 • 4:30 PM
This is so good; especially the closing paragraph! I'm glad someone recognized the anniversary of Ethan's death and wrote something in memory of him…
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