Words fail me.
I miss my friend.
What can I do but turn to God?
Some friends will turn a cold shoulder to you if you don't try to keep in touch with them, even if they haven't made any effort of their own. Some friends will only be there for you if they need something from you, if they can get something from you.
And then there are others. The good friends. The ones you can see only once or twice a year, or maybe much less, and pick up right where you left off. The ones that see you, and even after absolutely no communication since the last time you randomly saw each other, will grab you and wrap you in a hug so tight that you can't breathe.
And then you'll go out to eat and talk. Really talk. Not just the trivial, "How's life? Where ya working now? Blah, blah, blah?" But with real caring, "How are you doing? What's God been teaching you lately?"
Chris Herring was just such a friend.
He knew when I was sad and would make me laugh. He'd go hunt down a Pepsi for me when I was really stressed. He encouraged me to embrace my gifts and callings and passions. He always knew how to take a joke, which is a crucial trait in any friend of mine. He cared more about the hurting than many. He always wanted to serve and help in any way he could.
And now he's gone. It's surreal, really. Hard to believe.
I'm so far removed from the situation myself, yet God's comfort is very near, undeniable.
My tendency is to focus on myself. How I feel, how this affects me. Dumb. Instead, I'm doing my best to turn every thought into a prayer for the whole Herring family.
God is holy. He is just, sovereign, and perfect. We will never understand everything here on earth. And in heaven we probably won't care.
So I leave you with Psalm 71.
I miss my friend.
What can I do but turn to God?
Some friends will turn a cold shoulder to you if you don't try to keep in touch with them, even if they haven't made any effort of their own. Some friends will only be there for you if they need something from you, if they can get something from you.
And then there are others. The good friends. The ones you can see only once or twice a year, or maybe much less, and pick up right where you left off. The ones that see you, and even after absolutely no communication since the last time you randomly saw each other, will grab you and wrap you in a hug so tight that you can't breathe.
And then you'll go out to eat and talk. Really talk. Not just the trivial, "How's life? Where ya working now? Blah, blah, blah?" But with real caring, "How are you doing? What's God been teaching you lately?"
Chris Herring was just such a friend.
He knew when I was sad and would make me laugh. He'd go hunt down a Pepsi for me when I was really stressed. He encouraged me to embrace my gifts and callings and passions. He always knew how to take a joke, which is a crucial trait in any friend of mine. He cared more about the hurting than many. He always wanted to serve and help in any way he could.
And now he's gone. It's surreal, really. Hard to believe.
I'm so far removed from the situation myself, yet God's comfort is very near, undeniable.
My tendency is to focus on myself. How I feel, how this affects me. Dumb. Instead, I'm doing my best to turn every thought into a prayer for the whole Herring family.
God is holy. He is just, sovereign, and perfect. We will never understand everything here on earth. And in heaven we probably won't care.
So I leave you with Psalm 71.
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him." O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. Also with the lute I will praise You--And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.
No comments:
Post a Comment