My life radically changed on this date in 2010.
I was finishing up lectures at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA when I received the worst phone call. It was my wife, Rhonda. “Davey, I’m in the hospital. I have a brain tumor,” she said. I rushed to the airport and flew home. Ed Lewis met me at Toronto Pearson airport and we drove to Hamilton General hospital. It was the saddest day in my life.
Rhonda died less than a month later, on May 26th.
Today, I write this blog from London Heathrow airport. I am flying home, again, having spent the week with leaders in the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. The theme for the conference was The Sufficiency and Uniqueness of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
I am committed to walking honestly through this journey of grief and pain, so I will not lie to you; the past year has held times of deep pain and sadness for both Matthew and me. Having said that, not every day is sad. In fact, more and more, I find myself able to engage memories of my wife. I am better able to process my loss. On this second anniversary of the worst day of my life I can tell you honestly, Jesus is unique and sufficient.
Matthew and I miss Rhonda terribly. Your love and support give us strength. Ultimately, we find peace and yes, even joy, in the scriptures. These scriptures assure us that Jesus is the first born from the dead (Col. 1:18). This image calls to mind a needle and thread. Jesus is the needle, passing through death into new life. We, who are in Christ, are pulled through after him. Paul also says that Jesus is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20). The comfort here lies in understanding agrarian imagery. After harvesting their crops, farmers would offer the first ten percent of their harvest; i.e., the first fruits, back to the Lord. In so doing, all of the harvest that followed was blessed. Jesus secures the blessing of resurrection for Rhonda, for Matthew, for me and for all who are His people.
Paul concludes his first letter the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58)
I will soon board a plane for the long flight across the ‘pond’. On this flight I plan to read a little, work a bit, close my eyes to remember Rhonda, remember the worst day of my life and find a deep place of abiding peace in my Lord, Jesus Christ.
