Sometimes It Can Be Too Late

You should know by now, that I’m one to interrupt things just when the flow is on the go.  So we’re enjoying the whole family feel and there’s more things to say on the subject, but something happened today that meant a little bit of a change to the flow.  It’s still to do with the family, walk with me on this one.

Today I was informed that over the weekend a dear friend suffered the loss of his brother and uncle in separate events.  As I sat there contemplating everything a great deal of sobriety and contemplative reflection set in.

The thought came to me – sometimes it can be too late.

For some things in life we are informed it’s never too late.  It might refer to learning opportunities or something to do with a life-long held ambition or dream.  The assurance is more than apt in these cases to the extent that action can begin to take place at the time its given.

When it comes to life though, there are times when it is too late and one of those times is death.  It is too late for reconciliation at death.  It is too late for the all the unsaid ‘I love you’ sentiments at death.  It is too late to try and understand why some of the pain and hurt was caused in a bid to develop compassion at death.  It is too late to offer gratitude for great things done and acts of service at death.

I reflected on the bereavement that my friend must endure now and thought that over the same weekend he received that news I was with my brother and sister.  We don’t meet up together all that regularly, but there we were celebrating the May birthdays together as siblings.  Where once it was just the three of us, there was 11 people in attendance at the little get together.  The time was spent well enjoying each other’s company and at the end of it due sentiments were shared with each other of our affection and appreciation of seeing each other.  There was nothing soppy or anything like that, we Dryden siblings don’t roll that way, but it was impressed upon us again just how much we mean to each other and how grateful to God we are for each other.  Those things and sharing them are priceless for we may never know the time that our lives will end.  Now is the time to establish the loving elements of relationships because there may be a time when it is too late.

As I further considered things I was reminded of the encouragement Paul gives to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those who mourn.  Now my friend is not a professing Christian to the best of my knowledge, but such is my affection and respect for him that the news brought on a bout of mourning and sadness for him and his family.  I was considering that in the light of Paul’s suggestion and what occurred to me, was that Paul was expressing that which is normal to a functioning family.

Along the lines of what I was talking about recently – the love of God is the basis of family love from husband and wife to parents and children and beyond.  That family love then is echoed during times of loss and great sadness.  Thus that overriding love of God is in operation for one I care for deeply whether they are Christian or not, because that’s what family love is all about.  It’s that expression of love to others and within the community of faith that is also a witness to the world of what it looks like when the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.

In the same way I am filled with joy at the impending first child of my good friends Rob and Debs.  The feelings I have are ones that I usually express for something of great benefit happening to my brother, because I consider Rob as good as my brother in terms of the value of our relationship at this moment – and that is what the love of God does.

All this to say that this amazing love suggest that there is no time for holding grudges and investing energy in that which divides or holds us apart.  It states that life is for living and loving because if not, sometimes it can be too late.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd