A Cloud over Christmas
On Friday Janet and I will be headed to Newtown, the town drenched with sorrow that the whole world is watching. Walnut Hill Community Church, a thriving congregation with 3500 members, has arranged two community-wide meetings, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 28-29, on the theme, “Where Is God When It Hurts?” and then two church services on Sunday. (Click on the “Events” tab for more details.) I’ve known the pastor, Clive Calver, for years. Before taking this church he headed an organization called World Relief; his experience directing a global disaster response team with 20,000 employees, he told me, barely prepares him for the local disaster he now faces in his own community. After all, he lives in Newtown and knows many of those affected by name.
I’ve had some tough assignments (Virginia Tech, Mumbai, Sarajevo), but this one is horribly unique. I would truly appreciate your prayers this week as I prepare and then New Year’s weekend as we travel to Connecticut. With her background as a hospice chaplain, Janet is a master at the conversations that will inevitably take place, and she’ll do very important work alongside.
Healing and comfort–that’s what I want most for these dear people. Words can only do so much, and certainly cannot take away the pain, yet I hope that this event could be a time of safety and honesty when people can bring their grief and come away with a new appreciation for why the gospel is good news–even now, especially now.
(This is a generous country at such times: United Airlines is comping both our tickets and two of my publishers are donating some 2000 copies of my books on questions no doubt being asked: Where Is God When It Hurts? and What Good Is God? They’re also offering free downloads to the community that weekend.)
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18 responses to “A Cloud over Christmas”
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About Philip Yancey
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him.
“Today is the day of a thousand sufferings.
Just like yesterday was the day of a thousand sufferings and
tomorrow will be the day of a thousand sufferings.
You think there are some things that should stay the same
but that always change.
But there are also some things that should change that never do.
Tomorrow will hold just as many sorrows as yesterday
and the yesterday before that
and all the yesterdays in the world since the day we knew that we were naked.
(Selah)
My guitar looks at me looking at it
Watches me contemplate; there are not a thousand notes of healing on those frets.
But there are some, which is more than I have alone.
My guitar looks at me. Meets my gaze steadily.
Leans against the wall with nylon quietness
Says: No.
In answer to the question I have not asked.
Says: Melodies are not meant to be remedies for tomorrow’s memories
My guitar with its red and its strokes pulls away from my hand
Silence, it says, must come first. Silence, and more silence, and mor–
Until the silence becomes a minor chord; dissonant and incomplete,
like the taste of those thousand sufferings
Like these copper bass strings.
And that minor chord becomes a lower harmony;
a hammock woven together by frayed ends.
And that lower harmony becomes finally an upper harmony;
A canopy that catches tomorrow’s thousand more upon its rests.
Cradles them in its frets of forfeited tears and premature fears.
Lays the thousand gently at God’s feet.
(Selah)
I think we may have had enough songs to last a lifetime.”
Philip,
Thank you so much for your moving words this morning at Walnut Hill. I am back in CT visiting my family, back in the home I grew up in, one town over from Newtown. My mom works at a pediatricians office in Newtown and knows many of the families as they are patients. As you know this tragedy has more than rocked the community. And we often struggle with how to comfort others and even how to answer certain questions ourselves.
Though I still think of CT as home, I currently live in Virginia, in a tight community of special warfare operators and their families, where my husband works. Our group has also often been rocked by horrible tragedies of war and we find ourselves trying to comfort those families and each other as best we can. So much of what you said today in light of Newtown translates to grief and tragedy in general and I am so thankful that we attended today’s service.
In the midst of the holiday season and during one of the few (if only) weeks you probably take some time each year to not work, I am so grateful that you and Janet selflessly gave up that time to be here. Thank you.
Blessings to you both as we enter 2013!
Katie
Yes, praying.
Mr. Yancey’s service tonight was wonderful for all of us. His relaxed and honest answers and the warmth of invitation from the church was very soothing. Even though I didn’t lose a loved one, being in such a community, the connections are made and we are shoulder to shoulder with someone touched and grieving. This is so hard, so scary, so life changing and so confusing. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Yancey, your coming was much appreciated.
I am praying for you and your dear wife today and throughout the weekend.
I am praying for you and Janet and the people of Newtown- may God give you the strength and the words to help comfort this community. Julia
Prayers for you and your wife will be in progress. I have been praying for all those from Newtown. I pray that all of you will through Gods’ power and grace experience a closeness that is helpful to healing needed.
We will be praying for you—it is our privilege.
My hope is that we as Christians at least take some time to reflect on our own attachment to guns. Specifically how our own defense of gun rights can coexist with faith in Jesus Christ? I am not at all saying there is one answer here. But we need to start reflecting. I don’t discount the importance of prayers for the victim’s families. But we should ask ourselves how we would feel if our own child had been gunned down in this massacre? I’ve heard many Christians argue that in the wake of Aurora and Newtown we need more guns, not less. They have a right to their view. But I think we’re given a very different example in the New Testament. Did not our messiah proclaim that those who live by the sword will die by it?
My prayers and thoughts that your engagement will be like the healing balm to the beleaguered families.
Philip,
I am thanking God that you are going to speak with the families at Newtown. I will pray that you can offer words of hope and comfort. Please tell them that not only are people praying for them, but that lessons of love and faith are learned through them. In reflecting on their pain, I know God remains near. I’ve included my reflections in the links below for anyone interested. God bless your ministry, Philip. Nancy
http://www.nancyberns.com/should-we-sing-about-joy-and-peace-this-christmas.html
http://www.nancyberns.com/what-i-learn-from-fear-and-death.html
May the Spirit of the Lord rest upon you and the hearts be ready to bring forth good fruit. Jesus remains the Good Shepherd especially when wolves have invaded the flock.
Dear Mr. Yancey, may God use you as the healing balm for the bereaved and beleaguered families. Rgds. Jadson.
Two weeks before the shooting God started prompting my heart that something as horrible as this might happen. You don’t know me from a hill of beans, but we are definitely praying! I was praying and weeping with my friend from Evergreen (she went to HS there) 5 days before the shooting. May God’s peace somehow help through this timeframe…my anger at God for not stopping it sometimes floods me. Sincerely, Cally
I will be with you in my prayers, from here in Italy, trying to be as close to you and the families in Newport, whose pain and desperation I cannot think of without crying.
May the peace of God descend on you, may He who chose suffering and death and smallness and poverty for his earthly life inspire you in your ministry of sharing and support and give you the strength (and the words) to try and a find a hint of meaning, no matter how far beyond and yet close enough touch those living and awfully broken hearts. Maybe, there is no meaning at all, and then may he give us all the strength to wait until when all mirrors will vanish… I’m crying again…may I’d need someone with a popcorn to eat my tears…may God give you all the popcorn you need in these days.
From Italy, with love
Licia (mum of Luca 13, your sister in God)
Savona, 23 dec. 2012
Prayers for you and Janet. I pray you will bring words and actions and love that that community needs right now. And, as you said, that you can offer God’s healing and comfort, however that looks. Amen.
We will pray for yourtime in Conn. Phil and the leading of His Sprit! May you experience His leading…
I remember in the aftermath of the Nickel Mine’s tragedy here in Lancaster, Michael W. Smith took part in a community service and was tremendous. My guess is, he’d come in a heartbeat if you wanted someone of his ability and heart…..his ministry here with us at that time was SIGNIFICANT!
You and Janet are in our prayers.