Thursday, September 20, 2007
" Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?" Jeremiah 8:22
The world lost a great man, a great mind and a great follower of Christ last week. Scott Becker, Wes' long time mentor, and the pastor who officiated at our wedding, died last week after battling cancer for the last year. Though we knew his time was limited, his death still came as a surprise, as death always does, I suppose. At 47, Scott's life had so much promise. He was in process of writing his dissertation on Christian peacemaking. In many ways, it seemed like his influence for good in this world was just beginning, though those who were blessed to know him well have always known and experienced the depth of his goodness.
Scott's death seems more unfair than most. A man with so much promise ripped from the world...for what? Why now? Why him? There seems no good answer. There is only consolation in knowing that there is no cancer in heaven and in realizing that God is enjoying some pretty good company these days. But for us who are left, there is sadness and despair in a world in which death does not discriminate.
Of course, the Christian tradition has much to say about suffering and evil; we are in the company of many saints before us! The Israelites were no strangers to the horrors of this world. Under siege, starving, attacked and exiled to Babylon or left in poverty, Judeans in Jeremiah's day had much about which to lament. And God laments with them--sorry that their sin has left the world in such a sorry state, frustrated that their promise to keep the covenant went so far wrong:
Scott's death seems more unfair than most. A man with so much promise ripped from the world...for what? Why now? Why him? There seems no good answer. There is only consolation in knowing that there is no cancer in heaven and in realizing that God is enjoying some pretty good company these days. But for us who are left, there is sadness and despair in a world in which death does not discriminate.
Of course, the Christian tradition has much to say about suffering and evil; we are in the company of many saints before us! The Israelites were no strangers to the horrors of this world. Under siege, starving, attacked and exiled to Babylon or left in poverty, Judeans in Jeremiah's day had much about which to lament. And God laments with them--sorry that their sin has left the world in such a sorry state, frustrated that their promise to keep the covenant went so far wrong:
"My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: 'Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.' For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. " Jeremiah 8:18-21
It's no wonder they thought God was no where to be found--everywhere they looked, the promised land was now ravaged, their enemies on either side quickly closing in on them. But God was hurt too. God mourns with them. God is dismayed. And then God asks what I want to shout right back in God's face:
Why hasn't the health of the people been restored?!? Dude! (or dudette, but that's another post) You're God! Why don't you restore it? Why wasn't Scott's health restored? You want to ask me that? "No God," I want to say, "clearly, you don't understand the way this whole humanity thing works. See, we're incapable of things like healing and restoration. That's your department. And this time, you failed to show up."
But the answer to God's question remains a disappointing 'no.' There is no balm in Gilead this time. There are no physicians capable of performing the restoration Israel required to become whole again. There were no doctors with answers for Scott. This world has no magic balm. It is too far gone. Israel was too far gone, too. Exile, famine, loss of the temple--these were the prices they paid for mucking up their relationship with God. Death and disease are evidences of a relationship gone awry.
Thankfully, our story doesn't end in exile. It ends where it began, in the promised land with a new temple a new king and a new covenant. The promise of restoration for a world gone all wrong. Scott's exile is over, his restoration is complete. The day is coming when death and disease will be over for all of us. And for that, and for Scott's life, I am thankful.
Goodbye Scott. We will miss you here!
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?"
Why hasn't the health of the people been restored?!? Dude! (or dudette, but that's another post) You're God! Why don't you restore it? Why wasn't Scott's health restored? You want to ask me that? "No God," I want to say, "clearly, you don't understand the way this whole humanity thing works. See, we're incapable of things like healing and restoration. That's your department. And this time, you failed to show up."
But the answer to God's question remains a disappointing 'no.' There is no balm in Gilead this time. There are no physicians capable of performing the restoration Israel required to become whole again. There were no doctors with answers for Scott. This world has no magic balm. It is too far gone. Israel was too far gone, too. Exile, famine, loss of the temple--these were the prices they paid for mucking up their relationship with God. Death and disease are evidences of a relationship gone awry.
Thankfully, our story doesn't end in exile. It ends where it began, in the promised land with a new temple a new king and a new covenant. The promise of restoration for a world gone all wrong. Scott's exile is over, his restoration is complete. The day is coming when death and disease will be over for all of us. And for that, and for Scott's life, I am thankful.
Goodbye Scott. We will miss you here!
" See, I am going to gather them from all the lands to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation; They shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them..." Jeremiah 32:37-40
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Thank you for writing such a wonderful tribute to Scott. We did indeed have to say goodbye too soon. I think all of us who knew and loved Scott can be a balm for each other.
Karen
P.S. I think it's very cool and impressive that you now have your very own blog!!