when life strikes..

Today in the middle of Synoptic Gospels Lori got a phone call from her boss. Lori works as a Youth Leader at her Lutheran church on Whidbey Island. She has done this job for 9 years and has teenage children of her own. Lori has decided after doing this job for so long without a degree that she should come get some formal training and a degree. She drives over here 3 days a week. Lori has become the mom of our Y&F classes, and we all adore her. Everytime Lori speaks about her yg kids and her job in general, those who are around her can feel how much she cares for these kids.

During break Lori got up and walked to the back of the class, and within a minute or so word filtered through the class that the mother of one of the youth in her group was killed last night. Lori tried to hold it together after class started again, but then finally packed up her things and headed to the ferry and home. As she left our teacher (who was singing some hymns for some weird reason) had us pray for her and the situation and then we sang some more songs (still not sure how that fits in with our class, but oh well...) and then prayed for her again.

Now sitting in our y&f class, I think we are all a little out of sorts. Death happens so fast, and when you sign on to do this kind of work, you are asking to be in this vulnerable position. I just think to May of 2005. To Kayla, and Jennifer, and what went right and wrong and how God uses the pain and the good in our lives to do His work. Seeing Lori today brought me instantly back to that day in the hospital. To hearing possibly the worst, most pain-filled, excrutiating outburst I have ever witnessed. To be there in that moment when someone realizes someone they loved and cherished and prayed with and for was gone. Help us Lord.