Among the Living

In morning prayers my Zambian students would often begin by saying,“Thank you, Lord, that we are counted among the living.” 

     In Zambia, death is a part of life. 

                It has been about 20 months since I left Zambia.  In that time two of my close friends, my students, have died.  Multiple acquaintances as well have died or lost close family members.

                Zambia is a part of me, and so now, death is also a part of my life. 

                Mr. Mwaanga was one of these “among the living” pray-ers.  He started his day, and lived his life with gratitude for the breath in his lungs and the opportunity the new day gave him to love his family, his Lord, and the Church. 

                In my church service this morning at Lake Avenue Church we spent time praying prayers of lament and singing songs of grief in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.  At the same time we acknowledged this morning’s most recent ISIS atrocity of persecution against Ethiopian Christians.  This morning we prayed in gratitude to be counted among the living. 

                The sermon this morning convicted us to live our lives as witnesses of the Gospel, taking advantage of every moment to tell the story of how Christ has transformed us. 

                While waiting in line for the bathroom after the service (HOW does a mega-church only have FOUR stalls in the women’s bathroom?!) a dear elderly woman and her daughter stood behind me.  Most likely in her 80s, she hovered over her walker, and they discussed how they were inspired by the sermon’s practical application to be a witness.  She said, “That’s why I’m still alive.”

   Thank you, Lord, that today I am among the living. 

     

Let my living and breathing point only to You.