“Almost Heaven, West Virginia…”
If you live in West Virginia, or have ever driven through The Mountain State, you know that these words are plastered on just about everything. But right now, those lyrics from the well-known John Denver song couldn’t be further from the truth.
Many families in West Virginia have experienced great loss this week. On June 23, heavy rainstorms came in and caused extreme flooding over a few days in various West Virginia counties. June 23 also happens to be my birthday. As someone who calls West Virginia my home, it’s especially difficult for me to process the amount of innocent lives lost as a result of this natural disaster. And knowing that all of this death and destruction took place in areas not far away from me, while I just viewed the day as another birthday, is something that's hard for me to accept. Celebrating another year of life definitely isn’t something that I take for granted, and all of the tragic events that have been in the news over the past month have made me even more grateful for every day that God graciously allows me to live. Tragedies aren’t pretty, but they do change your perspective. They make you want to live each day intentionally and can create in you a thankful heart, which are both beautiful things.
A verse in the Bible, James 4:14 (NIV), reads, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
Life can be taken from you in an instant. It’s so important to cherish the little moments of everyday life that feel insignificant and to make it known to your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. That verse could be seen as discouraging to someone who doesn’t know Christ but to me, it’s humbling. It reminds me that my omnipotent and omniscient God knows how long my life should be and will be, and that everything is done in his timing.
John 16:33 (NIV)
“‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”
Amidst all of the tragic incidents that occur on this earth, it's consolation to know that Jesus Christ has overcome it all. I long for the day when Christ returns, when Satan is defeated and when death is no more, because where I'm living now isn't anything like heaven.
