Tag Archives: Death

Forever Friends

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So, last weekend, I visited my college roommate in Texas. In the 6 years since we graduated from college, I’ve visited her at least once a year, and she has visited me a couple of times, too. We’re just that kind of friends.

But this trip was a bit different than previous ones. We still did many of the same activities. We went to the movies (so disappointed in the latest Pirates) and all our favorite restaurants (had to get my Mexican and barbecue fixes!).

But the Saturday before I visited her, her mother passed away. While she had had ongoing serious health problems, the timing of her death was still rather sudden as she had just been checked into the hospital the morning before.

So yes, the trip was much different than originally planned. But God knew and orchestrated the timing.

The first half of our extended weekend was spent with her extended family (some were in from Alaska), simply being. It wasn’t awkward…I fit right in. Despite the circumstances, they got some good time together, and I was glad to be a part.

I’m very thankful for the friendships I have. I love that I we can spend a year apart with only occasional interactions (need to do more!), and still pick up where we left off.

FQF: Childish Addictions

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1.  Are there any animals you refuse to touch?

I’ll touch anything, assuming a trainer is holding it, blah, blah, blah.  But will I hold any animals? Not really (the occasional small dog or cat, sure).

2.  Would you like to know the precise date of your future death?

Yes, I would.  But as soon as you told me, I wouldn’t.  The building anticipation in the years, months, and weeks before that date would be awful.

3.  What is made for kids but you love it anyway?

Lip Smacker lip gloss.  Hopelessly addicted to them.  Go through a “party pack” every couple of months.

4.  Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)?

Only once.  Sims 2, senior year of college.  After playing it more and more over a couple of months at the end of my first semester, I realized I had to give it up.  Thankfully, it was a friend’s game on her computer, so I didn’t have easy access to it.  I think I really liked it because I got to control a world.  It was basically the techie version of what I did as a child: make up names, ages, traits, etc of my many imaginary children.

5.  __ is life. The rest is just details. Fill in the blank.

Jesus.

FQF: Hermitess, Freedoms, and Cheese

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1.  Ever think about moving to Alaska to live as a hermit?

If I moved somewhere to be a hermit, it most certainly wouldn’t be Alaska. Arizona, probably.

2.  For all the freedoms that people in the United States enjoy what are some of the ways that these people oppress themselves willingly and why?

Well, I mentioned a big one yesterday. Anything else that you can think of?

3.  When was the last time you were up all night?

When I was traveling to Turkey, I think.

4.  How would you like to die?

Besides the cliché “in my sleep,” I’d go for anything instantaneous.

5.  Finish the words:

Ch: cheese
An: Anglican
Ge: geek
So: social
Ne: next
Bo: boo (though I accidentally typed it “book”)
Wi: William
E: empty

Is Death Untimely?

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GravestoneDid you know that I upon occassion listen to classical music?  Primarily when I’m trying to write my novel.  Maybe I think that listening to creative, well-written music will help me write a creative, well-written book.  It’s couldn’t hurt, right?

Back when I played the clarinet, I’d also occassionally play classical music.  The clarinet is fairly young as instruments go, but there was one classical composer that was fond of the instrument: Mozart.  One of my favorite pieces to play was written by him.  The fact that he was a genius and seemed to write effortless has always enthralled me.

So, when I saw an article on Mozart’s death, I had to read it.  It’s not believed that his death at the age of 35 might have been from complications from strep throat.  This then led me to contemplate…can one’s death be untimely?

Yes and no.

Yes, because I believe that all our deaths are untimely in the sense that we didn’t have to die.  Without sin, we wouldn’t have died.  Yet our choices have led to death, something that we’ve come to expect to happen later in life.

No, because I believe that we don’t deserve the moments we are living now.  That’s not to say that I wish everyone dead, but to say that every moment God sustains our life is a gift.  When that gift is up, it’s not “untimely” because it should have been up days, weeks, or years prior.  Yet God graciously lets us live on.

And I thank God that He has allowed me to live another day.

Photo by hoyasmeg

Emotional Jesus

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If you grew up going to church, or even just around those who did, there are a couple verses that you know.  The first is John 3:16, and the second is John 11:35.

What?  You don’t know John 11:35?  Well, you might not know it by its reference, but it’s the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.”

It may be short (and it’s definitely that), but I find it extremely comforting.  In context, John is describing Jesus’s reaction to seeing one dear friend distraught and another dead and buried.  Sure, the passage is about Jesus’s power over death (and really that’s extremely comforting too!), but there’s something more there that’s important.

Jesus had and showed emotions.  For an emotional girl like me (boy stuff alone leaves me emotional, and that’s on top of the usual emotional triggers of finances, stress, friendships, and families) that’s very reassuring.  Jesus understands.  He might not know experientially what it’s like to have the boy you like not give you the time of day, but He knows what it’s like to suffer and love and support friends who are suffering, things that are way beyond my own personal experience.

Things I’ve Seen Today

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1.  Something comical: Someone wearing stripper shoes at a career fair.  I’m pretty sure there wasn’t anyone there hiring for that career…

2.  Something strange: Lots of tattoos and some awkward-looking piercings, once again, at the career fair.  I’m not necessarily against these things, but it’s generally the rule that you got to cover ‘em up when applying for jobs.  This has got to be doubly important in this highly-competitive job market.

3.  Something so-not-me: An unopened Amazon box…how dare he not want to open it and see the book inside and smell that new-book smell?  Does it really matter that it’s for school?

and

4.  Something sobering: a sheet-covered pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run accident during rush hour traffic.

Hope Lies in Christ

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I try not to follow celebrity gossip too closely (after all, it’s still gossip), but I must admit that it has shocked me to hear that Heath Ledger died. He used to be a favorite actor of mine in the A Knight’s Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You days.

I hear about celebrity deaths all the time, but they are usually much older than me (and often not someone I recognize). This is the first that I would say is of my generation. Certainly puts some perspective on life and adds urgency to the gospel message! Without Christ, there is no hope of victory over death.
“For the wages of sin is death, the but free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 NASU
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NASU