Feeling the Lost

Maya Angelo once wrote “When great trees fall…lions hunker down in tall grasses.”  When a great tree falls, it’s felt for miles around. When a great human being falls, its effects are felt deep and wide. Perhaps, this is why the loss of Kobe and Gigi Bryant and 7 other precious souls hit us so hard. The shock of the January 26 helicopter crash reverberated around the world.

For many of us, we watched Kobe from a distance, on TV or at a NBA game. His amazing basketball IQ, his wisdom, determination, passion, energy and love for people made him seem invincible. His inspiration and keen interest in mentoring the next generation in the game of basketball was exemplary. He was a “girl dad” and you could visibly see his love for his daughters. His zeal for life inspired us.

So, here we are today feeling this loss. For me, Kobe’s death reminds me that no one is exempt for death, albeit even sudden death. No matter how much money and fame we have in life, we still die. Life is fragile and brief and we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. In reality, we humans would prefer to be in control and call the shots. It doesn’t work that way.

There is something we can always count on, though. We can hope. Hope is found in God. We have a God who is good and worthy of our trust, even with our questions. When you think that God can’t possibly understand what you are going through, remember, there is no sorrow or pain that God does not know or care about. He is there and longs for you to walk with Him through the difficulties of life. Loss is so very painful and when one goes through tragic loss, life on this side of eternity will never be the same.

Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised will happen. He is and will always be a faithful God. I’ve been around long enough to know that I can’t trust in myself. I really have no clue what tomorrow holds, or today for that fact! Proverbs 27:1 says “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”  Instead, we live our life in synch with a God that knows all and has His best in mind as we rely on Him.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.