The events of this past Friday are burned into the public consciousness like the Challenger explosion, Columbine, 9/11. And, for my parents' generation, JFK. We will never forget where we were when we first heard.
We all hugged our kids a little tighter that night, and cried as if our tears might lessen those of the parents whose lives will never be the same.
There are a lot of questions. A lot of speculation. A LOT of finger pointing.
In more than 13 years of working with people diagnosed with cancer, I have looked into the eyes of the dying more than I can count. There are few absolutes.
Ultimately, we live in a place Between. Only those who are near to bridging the gap can actually see it, be it. And I have been blessed and honored to have them share it with me. We live, are ALIVE: BETWEEN. (It is a strange word to look at. It's not elegant or graceful, no matter what font it's typed in. It's awkward and clumsy and filling a space. Like us when we're there.) Between peace and war. Between birth & death. Between hope and heartbreak.
Between heaven and hell.
By being on this earth we are privy to witness aspects of both the real (trust me, very real) heaven and hell.
And many ask where GOD is in times like this. We search, fearful and fragile, looking for the solid ground in the midst of the wiggly-green-jello-nebulous search for TRUTH. (And green jello is very wiggly, and very hard to stab with a fork, and barely passes for "food".)
Of course, GOD is here. Always was, always is. In the entirety of scripture, GOD is given the opportunity to describe itself, in its own words, only once:
"I AM."
GOD is here.
Between.
With us.
Always.
