That is definitely how I'm feeling right now. I haven't really had the chance to sit down and post, and the thing is, so much has happened in this past week. Hopefully, I can quickly recollect it all.
Monday, June 13, 2011 was quite an interesting day. Where one life ended, another one began. Actually, ever since I've been in New York, I've been to two wakes and one funeral (all different people), and in Chicago, Benji Kurian passed away. There has been so many deaths in this past month, and I'm just astounded about what is going on. My deepest condolences to the families of these people, especially Benji Kurian. Benji Kurian was a guy in his late 20s or just turned 30. He was an active member of Chicago Mar Thoma Church, and he had been married for about a year and a half. Last Saturday, while he was playing basketball, he felt a pain in his shoulder, went to sit down, and decided to take a nap. After a while, when his friends tried to awaken him, he wasn't getting up. They called the paramedics, and by the time, he received medical care, it was too late. I honestly can't imagine what his family must be going through. He was the only son that his parents had, and they must be gaping because of this. Also, his wife had only been married to him for about a year and a half. I don't even know what she is going through. How can one get over such pain and grief? The words of Paul in Romans 8 verse 24-25 comes to mind at this time. "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." It seems that this hope of seeing your loved ones once again keeps us going. Otherwise, we should be grieving like those without hope. Again, my prayers go to these families. In the midst of all these funerals, on Monday, we went and visited this house. There was an uncle, aunty, their son Shymie and his wife Mary, and they had two little boys named Samuel and Stephen. Samuel is about two years old, and Stephen was just born. They must really have their hands full! We went there right after the funeral, so when I saw this baby, I began to think that when one life ends, another begins. What is our life? One day we are born, and then one day we die. What happens in between? Why don't we make the most of our time on this earth? Beyond all that though, I felt a sense of awe of the power of God. He returned one to the dust, and he brought one out of the dust. It's an awesome cycle.
A lot of other things have happened between that day and today. Last night, we went to Envision 2011 which is a conference, and the theme is, "Caring for the Community of Creation - A Native American Perspective." There is a Native American speaker who gave the main talk, and I really liked his points. We're about headed that way now. It's at the Riverside Church in Manhattan, and I was in awe of the structure of that church. Too bad one day, "...not one stone here will be left on another..."
Hopefully, this upcoming week I'll be able to post everyday. It was just that this week I had this big assignment with our liturgy that I had to work on. I finished it at 2:30 in the morning. To be honest, I really enjoyed doing it. I found a satisfaction that I contributed in a way that affects the whole Diocese. Beyond that, I felt that God really brought me here at the correct time to put my talents to use, and I am indebted to Him for the opportunities I get being here.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
-I Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)
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