Death as a new beginning (or what started all this)

If it's true that death is never the end, but only the beginning, then it is death that gave life to this collection of ramblings and musings.


In the span of less than a month, five people that I either knew (or knew of) passed away. Three of those deaths were from cancer. Of those three, one was someone I knew, another was the mother of a boy I've taught Sunday School to, and the third one I never met, but found out I lived right around the corner from her.


The first person was a young man named Casey Chrystie. He was 24 years old when he lost his battle with cancer. His was a life that was not lost. While it's sad that he passed at such a young age, don't think for a second that this was a tragedy. The list of good things that came from his passing could fill up dozens of blogs. Personally, I have never felt closer to God than in the few days leading up to and the day of his death, when so many people would gather at Casey's bedside at Arlington Memorial (about as big a testimony to the number of lives he touched as you'll find). His family was grieving about the inevitable, but not ONCE did they ever appear defeated. Their hope and strength was (and still is) in the Lord. Losing Casey was difficult, and they continue to grieve. But Casey's death was the seed that has sprouted into so many good things: people seeing God clearly for the first time; relationships started and/or strengthened; paths chosen because of Casey's inspiration. I tell y'all this: Casey did more living in his 24 short years then I've done in my 38 (so far), and he has inspired me to get out there and LIVE. Live my faith, not just talk about it (okay, so I'm just talking here on the blog).


The second person was a lady named Gretchen Ryason. Unfortunately for me, I did not know her that well. Her youngest son, on the other hand, has been in our family's life for the better part of the last five years. My daughter taught him at Vacation Bible School when he was three, and I've been his Sunday School teacher since kindergarten (he's in third grade now). I wish I knew them better, but I'm grateful that God has given me the opportunity to be there for him. More importantly, though, was watching Casey's parents, Bruce and Gaylene, during this time, since Casey was in the hospital at the same time as Gretchen. They were always concerned for Gretchen and her family, making sure they visited her and her husband while they were with their son. How inspirational it is to watch this grieving family, reaching out in unselfish Christian love to someone walking the same path as them.


Finally, a lady named Jessica Kaylor passed away a couple days before Halloween. I never knew her, either, or her family. I did know her aunt, Sandy McNutt, who was the principal at Wood Elementary (my son's elementary school), and a more inspiring principal you're not likely to find. She had kept the entire Wood family updated about her niece's condition. Then, when Jessica did pass, it was only then that I learned they lived around the corner from me. That blog, http://jessicakaylor.blogspot.com/, was started to document Jessica's journey and was written by both her and her husband. I've had a couple of opportunities to meet the Kaylors since Jessica's death, and being around them is a true joy. Yes, they're grieving as well, but it is their attitude that is so inspirational (hope I'm not using that word too much). Both times I've had chance to visit with them, they've been all smiles. Especially the girls. I can't even imagine what they're going through, but their dad is showing tremendous, superhuman strength that can only be coming from One place.


My point in all of this is to simply give thanks to God for granting me the opportunity to minister to these folks. The title of this blog comes from how I was signing off on my comments on the Kaylor blog. One thing I've noticed in my own faith is how incongruous everything seems to be, and yet it seems like that's how it should be: things shouldn't make sense. It shouldn't make sense that three deaths would cause so much hope and joy. It shouldn't make sense that God came down from Heaven to give His life for me. It shouldn't make sense that the lineage of Jesus contains some of the most vicious loathsome characters in history... and those are the good guys!


But it does. Thank God for that.