In my mind's eye - Good news travels fast

... In my mind's eye - Matthew 9: 18-26

The air in the room is stifling and loud with grief and crowding. The musicians alone seem to take up half the small room.  I stand vigil with my sister-in-law, whose cheeks are shining with effortless tears.  Ten minutes ago, her face was blank, while her body trembled.  I am dreading the wailing that is bound to follow shortly.

All the while providing her with moral and physical support, I am inwardly seething.  My brother, her husband, is absent from this gut-wrenching scene.  How could he just up and leave her alone at this painfully pivotal moment of life together?  Two family friends whisper their disbelief in the corner.  Apparently, he left just before she died, in search of some guy he has heard of who has been doing impossible things.  It is so unlike him.  He is usually annoyingly level-headed.  And now here he is, desperately searching after a stranger in hope he can reverse the very course of life.  I can hardly wait for an opportunity to give him a piece of my mind. She is gone. There is no movement.  There is no heartbeat.  There is no breath.  The scents used for burial awkwardly cling to the heavy air and strips of cloth lie waiting to envelop her small frame.  It is sad - actually, it is devastating.  But she is gone… and his family needs him.  It is getting to be time to make our way to the tomb.

The soft buzz of traveling news makes its way to our ears.  My brother has been spotted rounding the corner to the house, but he is not alone.  An entire crowd is in tow.  Has he lost his mind?! How is this helpful?  

He squeezes into the room, closely followed by a man I haven’t seen before.  “This is Jesus!”, my brother breathlessly announces to his confused wife.  This Jesus wastes no time clearing the room.  He’s a bit abrupt about it if you ask me!  He simply tells everyone to leave the house, claiming my niece is not dead, just sleeping.  This is too much!  My poor sister-in-law!  False hope will do nothing to help her process her deep grief. 

I try to explain that I was witness to her passing a couple of hours ago, but Jesus silences me with just a look.  I am struck by the fierce confidence in His eyes.  His face softens when He looks at my niece, so still, so lifeless.  He tenderly takes hold of her left hand and pauses as if to savour this moment.  Under our watchful gaze, colour returns to my niece’s cheeks and she takes a long deep breath.  Jesus helps her to her feet, where she is immediately embraced by her overwhelmed parents.  They feel her arms, touch her hair, hold her close.  

I am dumbfounded.  I am absolutely stunned.  I pull my eyes away from the unlikely reunion to turn to this man named Jesus.  I have so many questions.  And seriously, someone should thank Him! 

But He has quietly made His way out of the house to rejoin His excited friends and followers.  I catch a glimpse of His smiling face as they turn the corner.  

This time, the buzz of traveling news starts with me.  I rush outside to share what just happened.  I am tripping over my words and I know I am not making any sense.  But…then my brother and his family, his whole family, join me in the yard.  After a collective gasp and a prolonged shocked silence, a chorus of joyful, incredulous voices begins to rise.   

My brother had NOT lost his mind.  He had NOT abandoned his family during a crisis.  Rather, he had gone to the only source of healing he knew.  

He had put all His hope in Jesus. 

Author’s note:  I know full well that not all situations end with a miracle, but it serves us well to remember that regardless, Jesus’ love for us is real and powerful, He is with us always and our future is secure.