Without hope

Hopelessness.

Yesterday evening, while listening to the news, we learned that a funeral would be taking place today. A young police officer, about our age, had died a tragic death on Friday. He lived in the apartment next to ours, and so that’s where the funeral would be taking place.

All morning today, the cars kept coming and the people kept gathering at our neighboring apartment building. At 1:00pm, the traditional sorrowful funeral music began to play. The young man’s casket was carried down from his apartment and placed inside a vehicle, which would take it to the cemetery. Meanwhile, close family and friends began walking, single file down the road to the cemetery. The whole time, that terribly sad music was being played.

What was shocking to us, was that in the midst of this funeral procession, people continued on with their lives as if nothing was happening. People continued working on renovating their apartments, walking to the store, working in the field, etc. without even stopping to acknowledge what was taking place. It was as if they were doing their best to ignore reality… the reality of death.

As we witnessed all this, I can not tell you the sorrow that filled our hearts. Seeing these people grieve their loved one, and knowing that their hearts were without hope. Seeing people ignore death as something that could never happen to them. As our hearts were broken for the people around us in a new way, and as we wiped away tears, the urgency of this work we are involved in was once again impressed upon us. Oh, may we be diligent, willing, and faithful!