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"[There is] a time for mourning, a time for dancing" (Ecc. 3:4). But mourning and dancing are never fully separated. Their "times" do not necessarily follow each other. In fact, their "times" may become one "time." Mourning may turn into dancing and dancing into mourning without showing a clear point where one ends and the other starts.
Often our grief allows us to choreograph our dance while our dance creates space for our grief. We lose a beloved friend, and in the midst of our tears we discover an unknown joy. We celebrate a success, and in the midst of the party we feel deep sadness. Mourning and dancing, grief and laughter, sadness and gladness - they belong together as the sad-faced clown and the happy-faced clown, who make us both cry and laugh. Let's trust that the beauty of our lives becomes visible where mourning and dancing touch each other.
Consider Job, who was told, "You have lost your livestock, your sheep and cattle were also destroyed. Your employees were murdered, your children were killed – all ten of them.” Job received all this news in one brief period. Shortly thereafter, he broke out in boils from head to toe. He was grief-stricken, stunned, bankrupt, and in excruciating pain – both in body and spirit. He was at a total loss to explain even one tragedy, let alone five. He was naked, raw, alone, and the heavens were mute. No explanation thundered across from heaven. Not one reason – not a single one.
Job’s wife advised, “Curse God and die!” Job’s response was, “You sound like a fool, woman! Shall we accept good from God and never adversity? Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised.” (taken from devotionals by the Henri Nouwen Society and Charles Swindoll)
As the board members and staff have listened to the words and prayers of our supporters, we realize that mourning and dancing do cross paths. We have suffered some adversity, but the name of the Lord will be praised because we exist to praise Him. And born of that praise is the Living Waters ministry. |
