NEVERNESS

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Writing about the accidental death of a young friend, Ken Gire said:

It’s the neverness that is so painful. Never again to
be here with us—never to sit with us at table, never
to travel with us, never to laugh with us, never to
cry with us, never to embrace us as he leaves for
school, never to see his brother and sister marry.
All the rest of our lives we must live without him.
Only our death can stop the pain of his death.

A month, a year, five years—with that I could live.
But not this forever.

When I read these words my eyes filled with tears and I thought of my four brothers and two sisters. They have all passed away. I am the last of that immediate family. Several other close relatives have also passed away. Many friends from school days: grade school, high school, and college have also died. Many, many Christian friends from churches where I have worshipped and served have gone on.

It’s the neverness about all this that hurts so much. Yes, I know it’s only for this life and I’m not morbid about it, but neverness is a new word for me and I don’t like it. So I’m not going to dwell on it. My word is someday!