Let's Celebrate This Thing Called Life

Good Morning monsters, It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, you couldn't ask for a more perfect day. In my imagination I imagined storm clouds, destruction and gloominess. April 21st the world lost a musical genius an icon that spanned generations. We lost the talent known as Prince. I grew up in a world filled with Prince and of course Michael Jackson. I listened to their music, bought their albums stayed up late to watch their videos on MTV. (back when MTV still played music videos) I never experienced a world where either of them did not exist. While I loved Micheal and mourned his lost he never held a special place for me like Prince.

           

 I have never met this man, I have never had the pleasure of his company, he never knew that there was a young girl growing up just outside Chicago who loved all things purple because she loved all things Prince. Isn't it funny how that happens how we come to love those we have never truly known, how they touch our lives in our most secret moments and leave traces of their presence across the landscape of our lives. How through their talent and gifts they forge a connection that they will never know they made.

                You might not ever be famous, but you change the world in just this way. You reach people, you leave footprints on their life, you touch each and every life you come across, sometimes not always for the good. We are all connected in this life, we leave an imprint on this world, we touch the lives of perfect strangers, what do you want your imprint to be?

          The beautiful weather contradicting my emotions serves to illustrate that life goes on. Despite the loss of his physical presence in this world his music, his legacy will continue to leave an imprint on everyone who experiences it. What will your legacy leave?  Will you have been a bright light in someone's otherwise dismal day? Will your random smile change the outcome of a situation, will someone look at your life and be inspired?

              Today's message is a short one. Celebrate your life, every moment, every second. Live, don't just survive. Your life touches so many others, let your imprint be one of joy, love, hope and kindness.(Galatians 5:22-23)
It is so easy to get caught up in the trials and tribulations of your life, to be so focused on what is going on with yourself that you ignore everything else around you. The gift of life is a precious and fleeting gift. It is not enough to survive this life, but to celebrate the gift of life.

(Psalm 118:24) (Proverbs 15:15)

          As a Christian we are meant to be an army, occupying a dark world. We are to be the light and the salt, you can't do that when your focus is on yourself. Today, monster, make a point of celebrating life. Look beyond your current circumstances and be the joy, the light, the smile the celebration that brings some light into this gloomy world.

Celebrate monster, Celebrate

Death, Loss, and the Joy Promised in the Morning

   Good morning monsters, As I sit here watching the sun play across my windows I am reminded of one  simple joy we all take for granted, waking up. It is such a blessing to open your eyes and witness the birth of a new day. When we lay down at night we don't dream of not waking up, as we go about our day we don't focus on the millions of ways we could die, for many of us these thoughts never cross our mind. For those of us dealing with chronic illnesses, heart problems, debilitating illness, cancer, death or the thought of death; is our constant companion, he sits down with us, eats at our table, walks with us, looks over our shoulder and perches at the end of our bed. 


    Monster, I am not telling you this to cause you to fear, only to remind you of the greatest possession you have, Life. As we travel through life we lose people along the way, during the course of your journey you will lose someone you love, you will lose a whole host of loved ones. I am sorry monster, I am sorry for the pain and the hurt that you have felt, I am sorry for the pain you are feeling now, I am sorry for the future pain you will deal with later.   Death will come for all of us, but in the midst of this seeming darkness I want you to remember monster, that death though painful is not evil, it is not something to be feared, death has no power over us. 


  By all means, grieve, weep, and honor the memory of your loved one, but in your grief take comfort that it is not the end.  You will be sad, you will grieve there is no shame in this. After all when faced with coming to terms of his own death Jesus wept (John 11:35).
But monster in all your weeping there comes a time to remember that there is joy, there is an end to the pain. As Christians we are given hope. The word refers to death as sleeping, nothing more. "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

   Monster, in your pain know that God is with you. He will comfort you, (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) He will Bless you, (Matthew 5:4) He will heal your broken heart. (Psalm 119:105) and he will be your strength. (Psalm 73:26). Know that this pain and hurt will diminish and you will be left with the love and wonderful memories of having shared even a moment with the one you have lost. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5)


 

  In the church I grew up in we called it a Homegoing Celebration. We took joy and comfort in 2 Corinthians 5:8  which tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I have loved and lost those loves, and in the moment of my grief I was surrounded by people who loved me enough to remind me of these things that I have shared with you. I hope that they bring you peace monster, and shed a little light on your dark time. 

I wish you peace monster.