Sometimes I am frozen in fear by an event that makes me realize how precious and fragile life really is. During these moments, the mundane tasks usually accomplished without thought become weighty and difficult, because I am crushed by worry. Usually, though, these events ground me enough to remind me that the world we live in is not where we are meant to stay forever, but a passage to the great promises that await us. Yet, when tragedy or sickness come, my first instinct is to hold on forcefully to what I already know, because the uncertainty of the unknown crushes me with fear.
As I get older, I have learned that all tragedy begets blessings and all suffering bridges to our God. Yet, I must be able to muster faith for those blessings to come, and often they are not where I think they should be. Often in my unfaithfulness, I am not patient enough to find one good thing in my suffering. “What do you want of me in this?” I complain, hoping God finds great humor or mercy in my immense lack of faith at such times.
God patiently reminds me, again and again, through family and
