Facing Crisis

    Modern psychology informs us that there are two responses to a crisis.  The first response, in the extreme, is total denial.  In denial, the crisis which forces a radical change of behavior, is not real.  Those who respond to crisis in this way truly believe that the crisis does not exist.  No matter what the evidence, the crisis is not real.  Denial often occurs during the long illness of a loved one.
    The second response to crisis, in the extreme, is total devastation.  In this response, individuals become so overwhelmed by the crisis that they cannot function.  The severity of devastation makes it difficult to get out of bed.  Individuals have just enough energy to sit in front of a window and stare into empty space.  Decisions cannot be made.  We label this response depression.
    When a crisis happens, most of us find ourselves somewhere in between total denial and total devastation.  We want to deny what is happening to us and at the same time feel overwhelmed by what we know is happening.  It is as if we bounce back and forth, like a ping-pong ball, between the two extremes.
    The Gospel offers a third response to crisis.  The Gospel never asks any individual to deny the pain and internal suffering that accompanies crisis.  The Gospel admits that denial, anger, bargaining with God, depression, and finally acceptance are all part of the normal process of dealing with a crisis.  The Gospel never asks us to make believe we are immune from pain and suffering.  After all, Jesus wept over the grave of his friend Lazarus at his death in Bethany.  Jesus’ example gives us permission to have all of these feelings when we are experiencing crisis.  These feelings are not a contradiction to our faith.
    The Gospel’s option to crisis is hope.  Hope, in theological terms, is the certainty that something will happen.  I am amazed at how many times God reaches into the pit of crisis to lift us up.  Psalm 103 reminds us that God “forgives our iniquity, ... redeems our life from the pit, and crowns with steadfast love and mercy.”  I am also reminded of the last verse of 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.”  While acknowledging the devastating pain of crisis, we, as Christians, do not allow that pain to overcome us. In the face of crisis, we continue to believe in and do what God has called us to do.
    I write this blog as we prepare for the funeral of Kay Wean.  Kay was truly a saint at Epiphany.  Her death is just one of the crises Epiphany has had to face in the recent past.  There will be some who will say we should just move on as if nothing has happened (denial).  There will be others who will be paralyzed by Kay’s death (devastation).  But then there is the Gospel with its certainty of resurrection to eternal life.  There is the book of Revelation which offers hope of life in heaven without pain or suffering.  Finally, there is the admonishment that in the face of mourning the death of a saint we can continue to do what God has called us to do.  We who claim Jesus as Lord know that our options are not limited to denial or devastation.  Rather, we have the option of hope that allows - encourages - us to continue to do what we were called to do.
Pastor Pete