Asking why

I met three guys in Ft Smith three weeks ago who I could tell were going to be fun to work with. Young and energetic and full of promise to make their business successful. Two brothers and their best friend. Their best friend is the heart and soul of the operation having all the brains and know how to make it all work profitably. I saw the friend in Tulsa two weeks ago, his name is Steve. Friday I attended his funeral in Van Buren. Life snuffed out in a second. Gone. His wife was home sick with bronchitis and he decided to take her lunch. On his way back to work he had a fatal car accident. Nobody else involved he just lost control of his vehicle and died. The friends (brothers) are devastated. His wife his friends all in shock and devastation of it all. I barely knew him yet was affected deeply as to how fragile life really is.

It brought back memories of a very good friend who at 29 yrs old died about 2 yrs ago. All the same emotions of why why why? You look to God and you sense His loving arms of comfort but you have no answer as to why. Bad things happen to good people. All the time.

Death brings about questions of life. Is it really worth it to fret and worry over so many things that are uncontrollable in life. So many obstacles thrown in our path to make life such a challenge? These type of events make me realize life has got to be more than making the next sale, paying the next bill, overcoming the next surprise in your life. I look at the things I worry and fret over and conclude the things I let get me down are nothing in the grand scheme of things. Nothing. It is silly to get all worried and stressed over things that are beyond your control. I look at the things I have been through in my life and at times have cried out to God WHY ME LORD? What did I do to deserve this situation? Why do you seem to dislike me or turn your back to me so often. When in reality I should give great thanks to the Lord. I am alive, my family is alive and healthy and happy. I have so many things to be thankful for it would take a long long post to begin to list them all. I look at so many people I know who have been hurt by life's curveballs in much worse situations than my own.

As I look back I realize it is the trials and the pain that have ultimately made me who I am. All the mistakes and bad decisions used to haunt me. If I would have only done this one thing different.... when ultimately it is the Journey itself that defines who we are. Coaches of all sports say adversity is what carves character into a team. How we face life's tribulations and trials burns the character in the spirit and soul of who you are.

As I looked at this fellow Steve laying there in a casket. Young, handsome, looking as if he were only taking a nap I was struck by the fact that this truly was simply God's vessel that housed the spirit and soul of Steve. His body was before us but he was gone. We are left to wonder why. He is by all accounts basking in the presence of God. We take comfort in that yet looking at the red faces and wet eyes of his best friends you take up their burden. Their only words, "We dont know if we can go on without him". They can and they will. Its part of the journey. They will both eventually get better and stronger thru this journey. Drawing closer to God is the only way to be happy in our journey. His comfort and peace make no sense but it is real. He is the ony answer ultimately.