Teen Deaths

Our hearts are heavy these hours and days learning of the fiery crash south of Gretna that took the lives of four teenage girls and sent one to a burn unit in Lincoln.  It is hard to put one’s self anywhere near the grief and pain that the families are experiencing these hours.  What a terrible, terrible loss.

There was a school and clergy meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss a prayer vigil asked for by many in the community.  After most of the details were settled, I had the opportunity to speak.

I noted that we find Jesus in three cemeteries and from those we can find some help.

The first time we find Jesus in a cemetery was near the Sea of Galilee where a man who was completely out of control encountered Jesus and soon found himself at rest, clothed, and in his right mind.  There are times when death, loss, and pain render us overwhelmed and inconsolable but Jesus can bring a peace and help.  May the families and friends find such help from Jesus.

The second cemetery time was when Lazarus, a dear, dear friend of Jesus, died and was buried.  We find standing at his place of burial Jesus weeping. To realize that Jesus is touched by our pain is very helpful.

I noted that Psalm 116 reports that God declares the death of His people precious.  I noted that does not mean He is happy for their deat,h but rather it means it draws His attention.  Something that is precious has our attention.  Especially for those who are His, at their death He very attentive.  And in all human events, He is attentive.  Death is not a passing event to God, but a very important event before God.

The last cemetery with Jesus was that of His own.  As a group of women were leaving that Sunday of His resurrection, He instructed them to, “Rejoice!”  I suggested that even as painful and dark as it is now, there will come a time when some joy will return to life.

Again, the deaths of these young girls are just terrible.  To lose a child, any child, is painful.  To lose a young daughter in a fiery crash is double or triple pain.  My, how does one even begin to cope?  As rote as this seems, it is the truth: one copes with Jesus.

May families and friends look to Jesus to find help in this pain.

May God bring to these families the right people at the right times with the right words to give them some help.

May they turn to the God of all comfort and find His presence and touch sufficient to cope with their pain.

May we faithfully uphold these families and friends in prayer not just asking for comfort, but asking for God to touch them eternally.

May we all remember that our lives, all lives, are fragile!  We think we are going to do this or that, but we ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will do this or that.”

May our hearts be heavy.