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Loss
December 22, 2012

I've shared before that I am a special education teacher, and from time to time I have the opportunity to share my experiences with aspiring teachers at the University of Texas-El Paso. I'm often asked what the hardest part of being a teacher is, and for me the loss of a student is the hardest part of being a teacher. During my career, I have lost students and former students through extended illness, sudden onset of a medical condition, accident, and acts of violence. As adults, we recognize that the natural order is for those who are older to die first. When a child dies, it is tragic, and when the lives of twenty children are taken through an act of evil, the loss leaves an empty feeling of shattered dreams that is hard to comprehend. There is nothing that can be said that can take away the hurt of losing a child, and in the recent tragedy, of also losing educators who only wanted the best for the students entrusted to their care. I wish there was a verse that could be read that would take away the suffering. There is none. I wish there were a charitable act that could remove the suffering. There is none. A doctor might be able to prescribe medication for those suffering loss, but there is no medicine to take away the loss. Death separates us from those we love, and when death comes through the hand of evil, the sting of death hurts more. Loss is one of the challenges faced in life as it is a normal part of the human condition, and this challenge can cause us to question God. In times like this, it is fair to question God, and the Book of Job records the sufferings of one man and how he questioned God.

Job 1:1-22
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job had everything and then lost everything, including his family. The story shows that Job would later lose his health, and that his friends would try to rationalize why God would allow this to happen to Job. As they converse back and forth Job comes to the point where he questions God. By this time, Job has lost everything and he has to be wondering if he has also lost God. He begins to question God and God answers. The conversation with God builds and builds until Job realizes something incredible about God.

Job 42:1-2
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

This was a big admission from Job, because at the start of the story, it was Job in the driver's seat. Job owned all things and did all things, and through his tragedy, Job learned that it is God who can do everything, even though sometimes it may seem like God has done nothing. God does allow pain, suffering, and death, for his purposes which are too wonderful for us to understand. And when so many children lose their life, it becomes that much harder for us to see his purpose. Perhaps now is not the time to seek a purpose, but to seek hope for a future time, when there will be no more death and every tear will be wiped away, a time when children will be safe, a time when those who have lost their life or reunited with those who love and miss them so very much.

Revelation 21:1-7
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

My heart aches for those who suffer loss, and there are no words, either mine or scripture that can take away the loss. We do have this hope that in the future, God will take away death, sorrow, crying, and pain. It is with this hope we begin to see how God can make all things new, and during the darkness of evil, we look forward to this new day and when evil seems to have triumphed, it is then we must celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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