Yesterday, a friend of mine passed away to be with the Lord. She was a godly woman, wife, and mother. She was also younger than I am.

I’m not the right person to write about Holly, yet I’m compelled to write. Not because I’m worthy of remembering her, but that she is worth remembering.

I didn’t have the privilege of spending a lot of time with Holly. I call it a privilege, because it was. She was very dear to my wife’s heart and to our family. On the few occasions I spent with her, Holly portrayed some rare qualities. I remember her bantering back and forth with her husband – not the kind of banter that has an underlying “This relationship has issues” but rather “I love this guy”. It was heartwarming.

She had a smile that was always shining. I’m not sure how she did it. Most of my smiles smack of fake veneer, but hers were genuine. Holly really was a Beacon of Joy in this world. She was the kind of person you were always happy to run into in the supermarket, never wanting to duck into the next aisle to avoid her.

The cancer was mysterious and vicious. We watched on Facebook from across the world as she battled. She fought valiantly. She never lost hope. There were days when her smiled faded, only to return the next day more fervently. There were days when the discouragement was overwhelming, but her joy was never squelched. She entered eternity, walked into the arms of her Father, and is loving a new life.

And that leaves us here.

We’re wondering why the joyous one had to go. Why not the mean one, or the angry one, or the hypocrites, or the pharisees? Now we’re in a world with a less sunlight, darker clouds, and a lot less joy. Death has no more sting for those of us who go. No, the sting is left for those of us who stay behind. Holly is healed, healthy, and more joyful than ever, and we’re worse off.

The Apostle John, writing the last book of the Bible, in the second to last verse, says “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” John just spent 22 chapters on writing prophetic visions he received from Jesus. He saw suffering, wars, pestilence, disease, death, all the horrors and misery of this world – John saw it. Then he got to see a glimpse of the New Heaven and New Earth. And there, in that place, death is gone.

Was he blown away by the majesty of being in the presence of Christ? Surely he was. But I’m willing to bet John also yearned for the end of all things horrible. An end to war, cancer, and death. An everlasting life filled with Joy. So John said, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come fix this broken world. Destroy death, and bring on the joy.

That’s my sentiment when someone special like Holly goes Home. I say with John, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Don’t keep us separated any longer than necessary. Renew this world. Please.

And He *is* coming.

Holly, we will see you again soon. I can’t wait to see that smile.

Dedicated to Holly Lutterman: Daughter, Wife, Mother, Beacon of Joy

25 quotes (or near-quotes) from or about Sarah since the time I have known her, in no particular order:

1. “My sister looks just like me”
2. “I got written up for that.”
3. “You can choose one, or the other, or both”
4. “That is my favorite ride”
5. “Will you marry me?”
6. “They are not obeying me.”
7. “Did you seriously get a nose ring?”
8. “Where is your tattoo?”
9. “She’s moving in.”
10. “Say, ‘Doh-Doh!'”
11. “Why are you going so slow?”
12. “Why are you going so fast?”
13. “You’ll be scarred for life.”
14. “I think she’s a little tipsy.”
15. “You should come to the party.”
16. “He’s a little difficult.”
17. “Is that my shirt?”
18. “Is that new?”
19. “I like it comfy.”
20. “That’s hil-ARI-ous!”
21. “You think you’re so funny.”
22. “It will be in a barn.”
23. “Oh. My. Gosh.”
24. “It’s a surprise.”
25. “Package Deal.”

Happy 25th, Sarah.  Slapband.

photo: prayfordaisy.com

Death is a monster. Every twinge of pain is a reminder that something is wrong with this world.

The orthodox Christian view of history can be summarized: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration.

Creation – In Genesis 1, God created the Heavens and the Earth…and it was good.  God, the Creator, the Maximally Perfect Being, created Time and Space with a word.  Then He populated our universe and our planet, creating Man in His image.  And it was good.  God created as it should be. What happened?

Fall – Just 2 chapters later, mankind has an opportunity to destroy the work that God has done, forever marring the perfection. We take that opportunity.  This is the point where death entered the world and with it shame, guilt, disease, pain, and every other horrible thing. We took creation from perfection to imperfection – an infinite distance. What can we do to fix it? How can it be undone?

Redemption – Like Humpty-Dumpty, all the King’s horses and men are at a loss. But the King himself is not. He decided to make things right, and so Christ descended and became like us. Let that sink in just for a second: the Creator became like his Creation in order to fix it. That’s perfect humility. Christ, the God-Man lived a perfect life and died so that we wouldn’t have to. Christ’s purpose was to die. The one thing we hate most and fear most, Christ took head-on. Then He conquered it. This is redemption. God, paying the price for our disobedience, buying back His people and His planet from the broken state, and in one fell swoop, He killed death.

Restoration – Soon, Christ will come back and make all things new again. This is when pain and death will cease. This is when Glory comes in fullness. This is when our desires will be corrected and fulfilled. This is what we are waiting for.

But it’s difficult, being in this holding pattern of “Already Redeemed” but “Not Yet Restored”. We cannot see the restoration, so we wonder, “Why him? Why her? Why now? Why the pain?!” No, we cannot see it, but the Bible teaches that every ounce of pain and every shed tear will become something beautiful. In some mysterious way, God will restore not only the broken things of this world, but even the pain caused by this world, and make it wonderful. Heaven will be all the more glorious because of how thoroughly He restores.

I believe that Daisy and Jimmy are both standing in the presence of Jesus right now. Maybe they already know the answers to the questions we are asking. Maybe Jesus has told them just to wait a little bit before He explains. Either way, they are not suffering now. They are experiencing the first stages of restoration – peace with Christ.

My prayers are with their families, that the could experience the gift of Redemption here and now: the peace of Christ. Even in our ignorance, the Holy Spirit gives a supernatural peace that surpasses understanding.

And so we wait for the day when all things are made new.