Greetings Cascade Family and Friends,
As I sit and reflect on what I will share with you this week, I realize that I am feeling a myriad of emotions, mostly because of the unusual number of funerals we have experienced over the past month. Though most--if not all--of the persons we have celebrated had lived good and long lives, sharing the grief and loss experienced by the families is still painful. In addition, Sunday, August 21 was the birthday of my dearly departed mother, Dorothy Mae. So, this season of mourning and remembering her journey has been a bit difficult. Similar to the Cascade members who suffered from illness, her death was not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, when the quality of life has been lost, the quantity of life doesn't have the same value. Despite this awareness and insight, sorrow has a way of taking its toll.
I know many of us feel we have no control over death and to some degree, we just have to get used to it. I agree, we have little to no control over death; however, I don't think that I will ever get used to it. And I don't think you should either. I would hope that as a church congregation, we would not get used to reading or hearing about the deaths that occur among us. I would also hope that every time you receive a phone call, or read a name on the church bulletin, or get a Celebration of Life Pathway, your compassion will be evident. Something within you should cause you to weep and rejoice with the family involved, no matter how frequently it happens.
Let's agree that we will never become numb to death and loss. Instead, let us take the time to offer our prayers, sympathy and support and even cry with those who mourn. Listen to your heart and obey God's leading to help someone who needs an encouraging hand from you today.
Blessings,
Pastor Lawrence L. Young
