Commentary; Posted: 8/15/07
When sorrow comes
Rev. John C. Blackford,
Religion Columnist
Two weeks ago the I-35W bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed, stunning the entire community.
This tragic accident has brought sorrow, not only to the victims and their families, but also to many others in our area. Coming suddenly and without warning, it is being classified as one of the most significant events in our recent history.
One of the great facts of life is that tragedies strike, with their accompanying sorrows, and that they have the power to touch many not directly involved.
They may come unexpectedly, as did the bridge disaster, or they may develop over a period of time, but they spread a pall of sorrow in their wake.
Why do tragedy-bearing sorrows come? Sometimes it takes months or even years to determine the cause or causes.
Extensive studies are being done on the bridge failure, and it is hoped they will reveal the reasons.
The causes for some sorrows do not come in our lifetimes, and our “why’s” remain unanswered.
Some feel it is wrong in our sorrows to ask “Why?”, that doing so shows a lack of faith in God.
While we can ask too many questions, and weaken our trust in the Almighty, it helps to remember that Jesus on the cross cried out, “My God, WHY hast thou forsaken me?”
If the Savior, quoting the Old Testament passage in Psalm 22, could use this word, we too may ask it in a time of deep concern.
Isaiah in the 53rd chapter of his prophecy spoke of Christ as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. This is assurance that he understands our sorrows, and will guide us through them.
The promise of Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them who love God,” suggests that though things that happen may not be good at the outset, eventually they will turn out for good, as God carries out his divine purpose.
Good things began immediately after the bridge collapse. Acts of bravery included the rescue efforts of a young man that helped save the lives of 60 children on a school bus.
He has been humble while in the spotlight. (When it was learned he does not have the funds to continue his education at Dunwoody Institute, school officials and others raised the amount required, $15,000, insuring that he can complete his courses).
There has been an outpouring of kindnesses toward those most closely associated with the tragedy.
Many emerge from a time of sorrow to do great things. These events can be a wakeup call and bring out the best in people.
Sadly, some never overcome their trauma and it has a destructive effect. In others, there is an almost redemptive result and they are never the same.
There is an old saying that when life throws a dagger at you, you have two choices; first, to catch it by the point and let it tear you up, or to catch it by the handle and make it work for you. Sorrow is a dagger and we must decide how to catch it.
Because sorrow comes to us all, each reader has experienced difficulties bringing grief and could write her or his reaction to trouble.
Sharing them, either in writing or speaking, may encourage someone going through a time of testing and also strengthen the person giving the witness.
When we look back over life, we realize that the dark days of sorrow are outnumbered by the sunny days of happiness and for this we can be thankful.
Yet, we also know the cloudy days stand out in our memories, hard as they were, because in them we reached a deeper understanding of life itself.
We enjoy our pleasurable times; we learn from our sorrows. In closing, these lines are shared:
“I walked a mile with pleasure; she chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with sorrow, and ne’er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me.”
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