Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Now Trending

1 Samuel 31:12b-13
“They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.”


The whole world is still grieving for the many lives lost in the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and 10-meter high tsunami that hit Japan. As of yesterday, Wikinews’ death toll is nearing 1,900 while officials say that it is all but certain the final toll will be at least 10,000 dead. In Manila over the weekend, death news was left and right too. My two friends lost their grandmothers, another his father, and in our family - - a well-loved cousin. Even a five-year old cute puppy was not spared. Now guess my reading this morning: Saul and his sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together in one day. Trending? We all hope not.

I wish all deaths could be like that of my grandmother’s. That afternoon, she asked for a soda and some bread, took a nap then breathed her last. How peaceful! Unlike the helpless cries of those trapped in their rooftops while the raging waters continue to rise. Unlike Saul, whose head was cut off and his body fastened to a wall, along with his sons. But the three were killed before this savagery. They fought ‘til the end. But Saul lost all hope when he got critically wounded. He took his life as if it left him with no choice. What he dreaded was not death but life itself. For him, to die is better than living without his sons and scepter, and worse, be ill-treated by his enemies. For most suicide cases nowadays, it’s relational breakdown and work failure, or when diagnosed terminally-ill.  Sad trend :<

If what we’re living for can strip us empty when it leaves us, then it’s not worth living for! If all we care is our careers, what will become of us in times of recession? If all we love is our family, where do find comfort when they’re gone?  If we rely on our own strength, how about when we grow old?
Job established himself so well but when it was time to let go, though his body was sore and his heart grieving, he knew his Redeemer still lives. Soon, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as his ‘new’ daughters. Israel lost their king but guess who’s next in line: the greatest to ever rule their land. I never thought Saul's suicide will be my blog-ender, but thank God, there's still II Samuel to look forward to. Death news may be all over, but so is life anew. Three friends just got pregnant, two gave birth last week, plus a handful of birthday celebrants today. The Lord has taken away, but the Lord also gave. That’s trending too!  Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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Now Trending

1 Samuel 31:12b-13
“They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.”


The whole world is still grieving for the many lives lost in the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and 10-meter high tsunami that hit Japan. As of yesterday, Wikinews’ death toll is nearing 1,900 while officials say that it is all but certain the final toll will be at least 10,000 dead. In Manila over the weekend, death news was left and right too. My two friends lost their grandmothers, another his father, and in our family - - a well-loved cousin. Even a five-year old cute puppy was not spared. Now guess my reading this morning: Saul and his sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together in one day. Trending? We all hope not.

I wish all deaths could be like that of my grandmother’s. That afternoon, she asked for a soda and some bread, took a nap then breathed her last. How peaceful! Unlike the helpless cries of those trapped in their rooftops while the raging waters continue to rise. Unlike Saul, whose head was cut off and his body fastened to a wall, along with his sons. But the three were killed before this savagery. They fought ‘til the end. But Saul lost all hope when he got critically wounded. He took his life as if it left him with no choice. What he dreaded was not death but life itself. For him, to die is better than living without his sons and scepter, and worse, be ill-treated by his enemies. For most suicide cases nowadays, it’s relational breakdown and work failure, or when diagnosed terminally-ill.  Sad trend :<

If what we’re living for can strip us empty when it leaves us, then it’s not worth living for! If all we care is our careers, what will become of us in times of recession? If all we love is our family, where do find comfort when they’re gone?  If we rely on our own strength, how about when we grow old?
Job established himself so well but when it was time to let go, though his body was sore and his heart grieving, he knew his Redeemer still lives. Soon, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as his ‘new’ daughters. Israel lost their king but guess who’s next in line: the greatest to ever rule their land. I never thought Saul's suicide will be my blog-ender, but thank God, there's still II Samuel to look forward to. Death news may be all over, but so is life anew. Three friends just got pregnant, two gave birth last week, plus a handful of birthday celebrants today. The Lord has taken away, but the Lord also gave. That’s trending too!  Blessed be the name of the Lord!