Tragedy… does not have to be sudden… The Oxford Dictionary online says that tragedy is defined as “an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress”. There have been many tragic things in my immediate and extended circles by that definition. Some of them are sudden, unexpected, and more fitting of how we often use the word tragic. Some of the tragedies I have observed have been slow declines into pain and distress. Sudden or not, tragedy is often observed most vividly in those affected by it… We see the scars an event leaves behind far beyond the events themselves and at times because of distance from a situation we see the wounds left by tragic events in our friends and don’t learn about their cause until later.
When we evaluate an event I would argue that destruction, suffering, and distress are things we can usually judge as a group and agree as to whether the events qualify as one of those or not. However, we can wildly disagree on what is great suffering or great distress. Often the impact on our lives depends on how dearly we hold to the person, thing, or idea that experiences the tragedy. For example, I might have a blowout on all four tires of my car at the same time causing all kinds of damage. If that happens in my current high-mileage low-value care it would hardly qualify as tragic. On a classic or high-value care, I would feel the distress quite differently. Start talking about tragedies with people and any example would almost be too heartbreaking to make any comparisons.
In processing some of the tragic things I am or have been observing I came across Psalm 27. I won’t quote it all here but you would be better off not reading the rest of this Staff Journal and going to God’s word and reading Psalm 27 for yourself. In my NASB Reference Bible, the (non-inspired!) heading for this Psalm is “A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God”.
If you took the time to read the Psalm then you will quickly realize that the heading fits well. David lists a few things, a few things he is holding on to and hoping for above all else. In his tragedy… and he went through many… he held on to this hope when all hope seemed lost. Tragedies are many and varied, and their effects on us are many and varied, but the God we look to and hope in the same wonderful God each time. David concludes like this…
Psalm 27:13-14 NASB 1995
13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
On the hard days and in the hard moments or even as we watch those around us go through hard things make your thoughts match with David’s words… The goodness of the Lord is on its way, though I don’t know when or how, but the God sending it can always be trusted.
Blessings,
Will