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DAVID'S EMAIL BIBLE STUDY:
 A Love Story
 
A.   INTRODUCTION...  during Lent we looked at some short stories from my new book, "Water into Wine". Each story is faith driven, providing plenty of fodder for discussion. Perhaps you read Flannery O'Connor, the wonderful, southern short story writer whose faith permeated her stories sometimes subtly, sometimes obviously. Jesus' own short stories (the Parables) rarely mention God as religion, but they are the heart of Jesus' teaching. I'm not so skilled, so my stories are not subtle. Yet the goal is the same: to encourage the reader to go deeper and further in faith. Today I am using my story "He and She"
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C. SUMMARY
1.     My story is about a husband who predeceases his wife, so he is in heaven. Heaven is everything to be hoped for, and more. But. But he still misses his wife. As he says, "to be with God is wonderful... paradise is paradise... Heaven is truly heavenly. The lion and the lamb really do lie down together. The hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the imprisoned - well, they're not hungry, thirsty, naked or imprisoned. The sick aren't sick anymore. The sinners are forgiven. The lost are found, the tears are wiped away. The dead aren't dead anymore" (p. 82-84). But, he still misses her. Meanwhile, on earth the wife carries on, makes the most of her life in positive ways. She chooses to work on his "legacy", giving their children and grandchildren a fuller and deeper understanding of her husband and of their marriage. The story ends with that moment of transition from this life to the next, and their reunion.

2. The story refers to two scriptures. The Micah verses summarize a good life: one who does justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly with God. This is what God says God expects of us. The Revelation verses give us the picture of heaven that is most popular: streets paved with gold, precious stones everywhere, the Tree of Life, heaven as The New Jerusalem. Popular religion and culture have expanded that to include playing harps, riding on clouds, joyful in God's presence.
 
D. KEY POINTS:
  1. How REAL is Heaven? Is it tangible, personal, of substance? Will we know each other? Revelation's description is so over the top its point must be that heaven is greater than anything we can imagine. My "He" character understands that. It is amazing, especially in the details he mentions above. Jesus tells the story of "the Rich Man and Lazarus" who both die, end up in separate eternities, one a bit warmer than the other, and Lazarus is befriended by Abraham. At the "Transfiguration" Jesus is joined by Moses and Elijah. These stories show a heaven that is real, personal and tangible. I take it a bit further, allowing "He" to have romantic and emotional feelings in missing his wife. I tend to view even the most divine in human terms.
  2.   GRIEF. Clearly, my story is about two things: Love and Grief. As a pastor I am honored to know couples whose love is so profound, so deep, so lasting. Some are life-long marriages, some are second marriages, some are late-blooming. I also am honored to know great grief. That may seem an odd sentence. Jesus said, "Blessed (how happy!) are they that mourn". He's referring to love so strong that it hurts when the loved one is gone. Which brings us to grief. There are two extremes in grief: paralysis, and "moving on". Grief that incapacitates is not healthy for anyone. If we are still here then there is purpose to our life: family, friends, work, activities still need us. Don't underestimate that. Yet "moving on" can be both insensitive and impossible. There are "wounds", or sorrows, we carry with us forever. In ancient days swordsmen and duelists wore their scars with pride, a badge of honor. Maybe "carry on" or "continue on" or "live on" would be gentler than "move on". My "She" character lived on between the extremes. She was not paralyzed, but she did not "get over it". She lived out her days fully; yet honored her love fully.
  3.   "FAITH", the Bible says, "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". That's a paradox, isn't it: faith, certain and sure (Hebrews 11:1). To live by faith is to allow ourselves room for what we cannot see, or prove. For my "She" her faith is sure and certain. As a result, she knows her "He" is fine, so there's no worry there. Her own future is certain, so there's no worry there. Unburdened by worry, "She" is free to live the rest of her days with joy, purpose, and love.
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