A death in the family

I was thinking about writing a blog post tonight, but there has been a significant death in the family of one of my flatmates. It's sobering how that makes most other things seem a little trivial. My flatmate's fiance is here (and they have gone for a walk just now) so I am not the primary source of consolation or comfort needed, and as a result I haven't been quite so sure what to do with myself. They didn't want any dinner, so I couldn't make myself useful preparing that, and when I finally fixed myself some I felt rather trite sitting down to eat it. Death and grief leaves its onlookers just a little helpless ...

Now is not the time to say any such thing to my flatmate, as their is a time to mourn, and to weep with those who weep, but on my new CD Good Monsters, by Jars of Clay, there is another song I like called All My Tears (though the music is rather heavy - this album is a lot more "rock" than their others, and missing what I thought was their characteristic strings), about the hope beyond death for those who trust in God (Revelation 21:1-7):

All My Tears

When I go, don't cry for me

In my Father's arms I'll be

The wounds this world left on my soul

Will all be healed and I'll be whole.

Sun and moon will be replaced

With the light of Jesus' face

And I will not be ashamed

For my Savior knows my name.

It don't matter where you bury me,

I'll be home and I'll be free.

It don't matter where I lay,

All my tears be washed away.

Gold and silver blind the eye

Temporary riches lie

Come and eat from heaven's store,

Come and drink, and thirst no more

It don't matter where you bury me

I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

So, weep not for me my friends,

When my time below does end

For my life belongs to Him

Who will raise the dead again.