Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook, however that’s not been her main role in life recently. She is also a grieving spouse, having lost her husband David thirty days ago. She recently published a powerful reflection about her experience of life in these past thirty days. Listen to what she writes,

I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can give in to the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs, constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find meaning. These past thirty days, I have spent many of my moments lost in that void. And I know that many future moments will be consumed by the vast emptiness as well.But when I can, I want to choose life and meaning.

Choose life. This is a theme throughout the Bible. In his farewell address to the Israelites, Moses encouraged them to choose life. Jesus proclaimed that he came to bring real, life better than we could ever image. Choose life.

Most of the Biblical story centers around the consequences of choosing something other than life. The book of Judges tells a narrative of the people falling short, God becoming angry with the people, and God delivering the people through one of the judges. Deborah is perhaps the most well-known judge, known as a wise and powerful prophetess. She’s also the only female judge.

It was Scott Peck who reminds us, “life is difficult.” We journey through seasons of vast emptiness, where we truly become lost in a void when we feel alone. The hope we hold so tightly onto is that life is always right around the corner. That God will deliver us.

What might it look like to be reminded that God notices us, that God notices what we do? Who might speak that word to you? How might God use you to speak that word?

Please consider inviting someone to church with you this week. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Grace and peace,

Danny