Ripples on the River

It was a year ago that I settled down on my top bunk at SMBI for a quick nap before our banquet supper. This was our final evening of term, the day before we planned to leave for our choir tour in Belize.

I picked up my phone just one more time before closing my eyes. But that one panicky voice message in the family chat from Grandma stole all sleep from my body. My heart raced. I felt blood pulsing in my chest. In Grandpa’s heart, it wasn’t any more.

I remembered my family back at home, attending the funeral of a church sister at the moment. They didn’t know about Grandpa. In fact, I was the first one to have heard the news. But I couldn’t do anything.

I flipped my phone face down and rolled over to face the wall. Staring at the white space, I remembered God. And when one remembers God, one doesn’t have to be able to do anything. One can feel completely alone, completely helpless, completely torn. But God is everything– all-sufficient and only love.

And through the next year, He proved to be all of that and more. In the next few weeks, I plan to reflect on some highlights of the rich year I spent on this side of the river. Still, at times, I do wonder what the other side was like.

RIPPLES ON THE RIVER

One by one you cross the river

And we stand here wondering why

You have left in such a hurry,

Without time to say goodbye.

Did you catch a glimpse of glory

Just before you slipped away?

Did you hear your Maker calling,

Saying you could come today?

Standing here, we watch the ripples.

Oh, we cannot understand.

Why so quickly, why so many?

Why can’t we come join your band?

Each of you now freely worships

Christ, the One who lent you breath.

His you are, so His the timing;

His the pow’r o’er life and death.

So we also choose to praise Him

Though our earthly hearts ache so.

Trusting that He never fails us,

We surrender and let go.

Written earlier this year in memory of Nettie Wall, Barkman Grandpa, Klass Reimer, and Jordyn Braun, all members of my church or family, who crossed the river within 3 months of each other.