Thanks for asking.

Most of you know that this has not been a pleasant fall for our family to go through.  Shannon’s mom and grandmother passed away recently.

We are travel weary.  Just plain tired.

The grief?  It’s not a one or two week process to get over it.  There are no shortcuts to dealing with all the emotions and sadness.  Yet, we’re now able to relate with many of you who have lost loved ones.

This has showed us that pain, suffering and loss are very real things.  They are . . . painful.  Nothing can minimize it or give you an “easy out.”

However, there also is another reality that we constantly recognize, yet do not see clearly how it is working out.  It’s like looking for the sunrise on a thick, foggy morning:  You know it’s going to happen.  You will see glorious evidence of it, but for now must wait patiently.

Romans 8 speaks of this reality.  It is described as a hope for eternal glory.  Paul says that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to this glory.  It says that we can take it to the bank that God has given us everything imaginable in Christ Jesus.  We aren’t lacking for anything.  Yet, we wait.  And we struggle.  It’s not clear exactly HOW “all things work together for good” but in the glory of Christ they do.

So, do we have hard times?  Yes.  Do we feel broken over loss?  Yes.  Are pain and death the end?  No.

We want to experience Christ in the midst of it all – not ignoring loss and pain nor taking for granted the mysterious ways of the Lord.

Just some thoughts.  Thanks for your prayers.