Not Abandoned, but Embraced

"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." John 14:18

This orphan language from John's Gospel has always touched me very much. Several people that are very dear to me, including family members, have experienced being orphaned.  Adoption was a huge gift for their lives and for our lives as we were able to love and know them.  Through the sharing of their experiences, I have heard the pain and abandonment that they felt.  Being orphaned wasn't just an event, but a defining part of their lives, and something that shaped them in very deep and challenging ways.

Looking at this 'orphan' language from the standpoint of chronic illness, it also hits a very deep chord within me.  Feeling abandoned is a very common part of the chronic illness territory.  It is not unusual to feel abandonment as our lives take a major turn and we are faced with limitations and losses we never expected. We may feel abandoned by family and friends that don't really know what to do with us or how to help us as the days of illness turn into months or years.  We may feel abandoned by our bodies as simple tasks such as driving an hour ( a task that we may have taken for gratned before) becomes an event for which we will have to pay for in following days.  We may feel abandoned as we face disability from our life-long work, we may feel abandoned  from ourselves as we find seemingly "little" things can trigger deep anger or frustration within us...things that never used to occur.  We may feel abandoned by God, and wonder if anyone really understands what we are facing day to day.

Today's Gospel words come from the Crucified and Risen Lord, who himself cried out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"  In the Cross of Jesus we see the Love of God active as never before, and reaching into the very deepest abyss of human existence so that never again would the suffering one be alone. In the Cross of Christ we see God come to us in our depths...not abandoning us in our darkest moments, but embracing us at the times we deserve it the least, and need it the most. 

But God doesn't just meet us in our suffering, and leave us in our pain, for the Empty tomb reminds us that no matter how dark, painful and abandoned our situation, we are not alone, but are embraced by the God who can transform the worst experiences.  God doesn't leave us to stagnate in our suffering, but works to move us out of the depths.

We are not abandoned by God, even when we feel most alone.  Cry out to the Lord, let him know what you are feeling.  And then listen to the sweet promise-  you are not orphaned, but he has come to be God with us.  So that we may be strengthened to stand with others in their suffering and remind them of Jesus' loving, embracing presence.

Dear Lord,  in those dark nights when we feel alone, forgotten and abandoned, we call out to you. Reach out and comfort us and assure us of your presence, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.