Hear the Echo

I was privileged to hear a beautiful story of God’s love at a recent Grief Share meeting. We had been discussing the “why” question and the guilt and anger that can come with the loss of a loved one. One sweet lady shared her personal experience and it touched my heart.

Several years ago her family was on a canoeing adventure that turned into tragedy when her son-in-law drowned. Later they discovered that the rental company knew the canoe was damaged but still rented the faulty equipment.

Sometime later they were hiking in the mountains and came upon an incredible vista among the cliffs with a panoramic view. She had been thinking of her son-in-law while on the hike and her anger towards God and the rental company were fresh on her mind.

She decided to yell out in her anger and said, “God, damn you God!” In the echo’s reply she heard, “I Love You.” She said she was stunned, humbled and forever changed by God’s answer.

She realized that God wasn’t picking on her and her family when He took her son-in-law and in that moment she knew that God had a purpose and no matter how deep the pain or trial, she knew without a doubt that He was and is a God of Love.

What makes that beautiful story even more incredible is that this sweet woman, who also lost her husband last year, has recently been diagnosed with dementia.

She explained that she is loosing her memories but the one that is most vivid and completly clear as if it happened yesterday, was God telling her that He loved her.

Echos repeat our own words and so many times that’s all we hear, the same worries, emotions, and thoughts over and over again. But if we stop to listen with our heart, how surprised we might be with the reply that God has for us.

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. (1 Kings 19:12)