Face to Face

This past Friday afternoon, one of my friends met Jesus face to face. That alone makes me thrilled for her, regardless of promises that she will know no more suffering, pain, regret or anything else that is broken and sad. Of course, that means that we won't see her here again, which makes me grieve for us and our loss. I'm sad that Lisa won't be here for birthday parties, births, Anne of Green Gables parties, Thanksgiving, Easter... all those things.

It's such an odd mixture of feelings as we follow St. Paul's instruction that "we do not grieve as those without hope". What does that look like practically? How does that work out for Lisa's best friend who never planned for this to happen? How does that look for Lisa's sisters who don't have her support? How does that look for me who needs someone to challenge me like only Lisa did?

But then...I remember that Lisa now knows the answer to the questions. Although we can only imagine, Lisa knows the answer to "will I dance before You Jesus, or in awe of You be still?" She knows what the rooms look like that Jesus had prepared for her in His father's heavenly mansion.

At these times I remember that my understanding is so small, and God's plan is so big. In fact, it's like seeing through a foggy glass window - we can't quite discern what is on the other side. And that's okay. The most important thing is that we know there is something big happening on the other side of the fog and the mist, and that one day we will be a part of it.

"We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly as He knows us!"

The Message / Bible (I Cor. 13:12)