Spiritual Fitness & Living With Chronic Pain

Today would’ve been my brother’s 46^th birthday. To my knowledge his wife and kids are going to scatter his ashes on a beach in Florida to have some closure about this ordeal.
 
Why did this unnecessary act have to happen? Again and always, no one will really know. The reason I’m offering further explanation is to try to put some pieces together for those who read this blog and who have personally written to me about this unexpected happening.
 
I think Clay was human and vulnerable and broken.  That does not mean that he didn’t have faith.  I think his death will teach all of us, including those outside my family, about our own ways of thinking and living by faith.  Too often, when we become Christians, it’s as if we deny the beauty and vulnerability about our humanness.  God certainly did not do this as evidenced by Christ.  He identified with us in every human way even though He was without sin.  His message to us was not to first become Christians, in the context of the American 21^st version of Christianity.  Rather, He was more concerned about something much bigger, which was to usher in the kingdom of God, and to do just two things.  Love God and Love People.  Of course, in order to do this, repentance and belief are prerequisites.
 
I certainly don’t understand the amount of spiritual warfare Clay was under during those last few hours.  But I do know it had to be tremendous.  Although we can examine the selfishness of his act, I believe in his own way, even though twisted, that within his broken heart he must have plainly felt unloved; therefore, Clay just gave up.  God understands his fatigue about living. 

 
I also during this time still feel waves of immense sadness about his passing.  The lesson I’m learning from all of this is to live by the power of God more effectively by loving Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  And secondarily and equal to the first command of love is to love thy neighbor as thy self.  I want to get out of the way of my own narrowmindedness about love and to let God really work throughout my entire life.
 

Clay was obviously the weaker vessel.  Regardless of fragility or pride or anything else, I’m personally encouraged to break more chains of my own preconceived judgments about others and to walk more freely in love. What lessons are you learning from this horrendous tragedy?
 

It would be remiss of me not to mention my deep concern for Val, Karlyn and Blayne.
 
Keep me on your favorites. For more about living with chronic pain, as well as spiritual healing,  visit me at www.gordonselley.com

 
To your health, Gordon Selley

To your health,