Diminished By Loss

We are brought down to the dust;

    our bodies cling to the ground.

Rise up and help us;

    rescue us because of your unfailing love. Psalm 44:25-26

‘Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.’

‘No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;’

—John Donne

The above two separate quotes by John Donne were written by him while gravely ill and facing his own mortality. His point with these quotes was that we are part of a whole and that each and every death diminishes us all. These quotes and other sayings in his book of devotions continually revolve around the subject of sin and salvation. He was a Christian who understood the importance of every life in the great scheme of things.

Without becoming morbid, I believe it is healthy to think about our mortality and that of our loved ones from time to time. It not only moves our focus beyond this life to the one to come, but it reminds us that death does indeed diminish the whole. We are correct to mourn the impending death of us all. This world suffers loss at every death, even while heaven gains a new citizen.

While we may mourn death and the loss that comes with it, thanks to Jesus we need not live in fear of death.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

What a glorious day it will be when death itself is done away with.

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

For now, death and the loss it brings diminishes us, but we have hope. Not only will we once again see loved ones in heaven, but death itself will at some point in time cease to exist. One day indeed there will be no more suffering or tears or even death.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for the hope we have in You and in Your precious promises. Amen.