December 27th

I was saddened by yet another death recently, but not one within my own family. No, this time it was a young professional football player who met with a very untimely end. Chris Henry, a 26 year old rising star in the National Football league, died as a result of injuries sustained from falling off the back of a pickup truck. I’m not a football fan at all but the tragic circumstances that led to Mr. Henry’s demise really hit home with me.
From what I understand it was just a moment of fun, just one of those instant decisions that seems like good idea at the time, but turns out to have horrible, life shattering consequences. That’s what saddened me about the story. The death of my two aunts, sad as it was, came after long lives and as a natural conclusion to various illnesses. Although never fully expected, when death comes in those circumstances it at least seems like part of the natural order of things. You live till a ripe old age, health declines, and you shrug off the mortal to put on God’s promised immortality.
The sudden accident that in a few days led to the death of a young healthy man doesn’t quite fit into that vision. Life should not end so quickly. Nor should it be so easily snuffed out because of a single choice of something that seemed perfectly harmless at the time. How many of us have acted far too quickly only to reflect on our dangerous folly with all too frightening hindsight? How many times have we opted to do something on the spur of the moment only narrowly avoiding unhappy, long lasting consequences? How many times will we do just the same thing?
Part of human genius is the ability to make quick decisions and take instant action. We need to be able to react speedily, sometimes to avoid danger, sometimes to achieve success and sometimes just to make silly comments that come quickly to mind, or to a little spontaneous fun. Most of the time those quick choices lead to safety, success, a good laugh or a great time but sometimes, as is all too obvious, the results are not pleasant at all.
So where is God in all of this? What does our heavenly Creator have to do with this reflection on our hasty decisions and lasting consequences? Well, I think the answer lies in God’s incredible permanence and reliability. God laughs with us when we share a quick joke (in good taste, mind you...) and God applauds us when we succeed (fairly) because of our quick reactions and ability to think on our feet.
Yet when those choices are poor or harmful, God is there to support us, to forgive us, to help us make it through the tragedy. Calm, patient and steadfastly loyal, God sees us through the pain, however long it takes. He’s already seen to it that we’re covered for our mistakes. Jesus paid that price long ago. We can help ourselves, too, by thinking things through a little better and by relying on God’s wisdom to help us make the right decision. But when that’s not possible, or we make a poor choice, we can trust that God will have the right answer for us the moment we need it. At least that’s the way I see it.