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Even the recent death of 22 year old R&B singer / movie star Aaliyah Haughton, who died in a plane crash over the Bahamas, resonates with warning. It was only a short time before her plane went down that BET.com quotes her as saying “I’m a survivor, and I can handle anything. I’m very confident about that. I come from a very strong family, and they are always there to protect me.” That, of course, was not the case, for no amount of wealth, no amount of fame and no amount of family support can prevent the inevitable. Sooner or later we are all going to die. Such reality is rarely more clear than when we are brought face to face with such massive loss of human life.
In the wake of such tragedy, there is no shortage of heartfelt offers of solace and encouragement. Sadly, most of what we hear, while well-intentioned, is thoroughly void of any real hope or comfort. When Dr. Joyce Brothers and even Laura Bush tell children not to worry, “We will punish the people who did this and mommy and daddy will be here to protect you,” it becomes immediately apparent that such promises may well be beyond their ability to keep. It is quite conceivable that parents aboard Tuesday’s four ill-fated flights may have comforted their own children’s fear of flying by saying, “Don’t worry, honey, daddy will be here to take care of you.” No parent can make that unequivocal promise to their child, because our times are not our own. Our hope must be rooted in something beyond this life, in something which cannot be destroyed or taken away.
There is no question that the perpetrators of this great evil should be punished, and heightened national security is a good thing (necessitated by man’s depravity), but to hang all our hopes on plans of retribution and tighter defense is foolishness. Retribution does no good to those who are already dead. It provides closure for the living but not for the deceased. The New York City fire department has already estimated that half of its 400 on scene rescuers were crushed under the collapse of the first tower. How does retribution help them? The real question is, where did all these souls go, or more to the point, where will your soul go?
As you contemplate this recent devastation...as you meditate on a summer of human tragedy, don’t solace yourself with shallow answers. Don’t give it up to nonsense like “time will heal” or “the American spirit will prevail”. Stare this tragedy in the face, and THINK. Don’t be complacent. Ask questions about the meaning of these things. Listen to the voice of wisdom crying in the streets. Don’t let these thousands die in vain. Reconcile yourself to the reality that you will die, and if you will, cast your faith upon the only One who can turn terrible tragedy into ultimate triumph. It was, after all, the worst tragedy in human history (that the only perfect man, God Himself, should die a criminals death) that opened the door to the greatest news of all time. It is tragic that so many must die before we give thought to our own mortality, but it is mercy that One has already died to take our place (if we will just accept his gift). Face the inevitable, and reconcile your soul to God. If you wait for the next tragedy to strike, it may very well be too late.
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