Reflections from the President

I have been working on a totally different introductory presidential blog but the loss of our colleague and friend, Anthony Eldridge, calls for a totally different opening. I offer these reflections for our encouragement....

“Living In the Valley of the Shadow”

Presidential Reflections

How do we explain the loss of our colleague and friend, Anthony Eldridge, in light of our conviction we serve a “good” God?

If God is loving and all powerful, how could this unexpected tragedy happen? We have to accept the seemingly harsh reality that -from a human perspective -there are no easy answers to the unexpected death of a loved one or friend.

Remember we cannot address all of our pain in a sound byte.

There is a subtle temptation to spin off quick answers that erase all the questions and ease the pain. But offering, only, easy answers often adds to the hurt and increases the confusion. Job’s story is a classic example of what can happen when well-meaning people offer superficial answers to human pain.

This time of loss brings us face-to-face with our human frailty.

We have to come to terms with the facts: God has chosen to limit our understanding of all He allows to happen in the world He created. He determines when and if we receive explanations and insights. But that raises a fundamental question- what do we do while we wait for the email or letter from God helping us understand what He is doing in our lives?

God gives us permission to express our questions and pour out our hearts to Him.

The psalms are a window into the heart of man’s response to the reality of life’s struggles. We see repeated instances where the psalms are raw and real. Sometimes, we are left to raise our hands and simply say: “I don’t have answers to all the questions!”

Our human frailty can give way to either an avalanche of fear or an affirmation of personal faith in the character of God.

Sometimes the weight of the pain disorients us and causes physical, intellectual, social and emotional distress. We ultimately reach a point where a critical decision needs to be made. We are forced to decide whether to place our trust in the character of God or our limited human assessment.

Suggestions for Responses to Our Loss

Let’s Pray Fervently for Wisdom and focus on the priority and practice of prayer. (James 1:2-8)

Let’s Search the Scripture for God’s Guidance to deepen our understanding and give us the basis for faith and confidence. (Psalm 119:105)

Let’s Practice the Ministry of Comfort by seizing opportunities to respond to each other’s emotional and spiritual needs. (2 Corinthians 1:1-7)

Let’s Act Compassionately by being a channel of God’s love and compassion whenever and wherever God provides the opportunity to each other and Anthony’s family. (Luke 10:30-37)

Let’s Live Without Regret by doing the right thing when and while God has given us the opportunity. (James 4:13-17)

Dr. Larry A. Mercer,

President