Witness

This chapter in “On Getting Out of Bed” begins with the following poem:

Lately I have been wondering why
We go to so much trouble to postpone the unavoidable
And prolong the pain of being alive
― Pedro the Lion, “Priests and Paramedics” in “On Getting Out of Bed” by Alan Noble

I’ve been stuck because I’ve been focused on how to write about suicide.  My brother committed suicide because he couldn’t take the pain anymore.  He has missed out on so many things as a result – good things.  As I’ve been struggling with what to write a verse came to mind which began to shift my thoughts and helped me to better understand the chapter.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ―Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

Paul often writes long, difficult to understand, sentences to get an idea across.  In this case he uses very few words.  Paul would never consider ending his life by his own hand.  He has the ultimate reason to live.  Every moment he lives is an opportunity to be a living witness to who Jesus is and what He has done in Paul’s life.  Many of the letters in the New Testament are the result of Paul’s using his time in prison to write to churches.

It is obvious Paul thought death would be a good thing as it would bring him into the presence of Jesus for eternity.  Pain and suffering would be gone.  His expression of joy in this letter is a strong witness of his love for Christ and his understanding of his purpose.

“You need to know that your being in the world is a witness, and it “counts for something.” Your existence testifies. There is no mitigating this fact. There is nowhere you can hide where your life will not speak something to the world. All we can do sometimes is to decide what our existence is a witness to, what it speaks of, and how we can share the burden of witnessing with one another.”
― Alan Noble, On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living

I am blessed to have had many people who have lived out what Paul and Alan Noble describe.  My father spent his final years in an assisted living facility.  He wasn’t perfect and yet he lived with a sense of purpose.  Even with a failing memory he worked hard to know the name of everyone who cared for him.  He prayed for them daily.  When he died two years ago on Christmas Day the staff commented that he had been a blessing to everyone who had cared for him.  For him to live was Christ and going home to be with Jesus on Christmas was the best present he would ever receive.

Comedians make a living on mother-in-law jokes.  My mother-in-law is no joke.  June is 98 years old.  We recently spent a week at her house and her loving and serving heart was a constant reminder of what being a witness looks like.  She loves God with her whole heart and when she is playing Southern Gospel music on the piano the joy overflows.  Someday she will go home to be with Jesus, but in the meantime everyone here who knows her will be blessed by the presence of Christ in her.

I could go on, but I hope you get the point.  I want to live every day with joy in Christ.  What about you?