Reflection for January 9, 1999: Wednesday after Epiphany.
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Authors
Scritchfield, Shirley
Issue Date
1999-01-09
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Essay
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en_US
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"There is no fear in love, for perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18||"Calm yourselves! It's me. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:50|Today's scriptures are well known to all of us raised within the Christian tradition. Surely, I have always found them lovely; their promises feed my very soul. But, today, as I reflect upon these words, they have taken on new layers of meaning.|For in this past week, I have come to know the fear, the pain, and the love of walking with a loved one as they prepare to depart this world. My Dad is dying--slipping away from me moment by moment. Indeed, as I write this one week before Christmas, he lies to my right--punctuating the soft strains of music with the sporadic breathing of one who will die shortly.|Never, have I walked into a more difficult storm. No where to run, no place to hide from the enormity of the sorrow--and love would not let me run anyway. How could I run away from one whose very life and constant presence in my life embodied giving and loving? No running away just isn't/wasn't an option.|So, here we are--my mother, my brother, and I--tending to his body while God and he labor to shed this earthly world and give birth to his new life.|We feel the darkness of loss, the turmoil of the storm, the fear of tomorrows without him. And, yet...it is clear that we are not alone. God is here--in the midst of the tears of good-bye, in the nurturant caring for his ravaged body, and in the quiet moments of prayers and memories. We are surrounded by the Holy--holding us all as we walk into and through this sacred storm.|Indeed, Jesus is here...saying, "Calm yourselves! It's me. Don't be afraid."|And, so it is...thanks be to God.|D. Dale Scritchfield's spirit was freed from his earthly body at 5:04 p.m. CST on December 20, 1998--in his home of 35 years in Osceola, IA. At his side were his wife, Erma, son, Dale, daughter, Shirley, and son-in-law, Tom. And all were surrounded by the Spirit's love.
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary Number: 214