Gut Wrenching Hope

Sebastian Biber

Pictured here is my friend Sebastian, a fun and happy kid from Austria. Yvonne and I love him and his parent Peter and Maria. Last time they visited with us, Sebastian made us laugh so much and brought real joy to our home.

He was traveling North America by "couch surfing" and introduced us to this cool kind of travel. Sebastian is just that kind of person ... the kind who can go from home to home (couch to couch), meet new people, make friends, bring laughter and leave a blessing.

Tragedy hit their town in Austria as one of Sebastian's close friends drowned. Peter told me that Sebastian gathered friends on the couch in his own home and was helping them process the grief. In the midst of his own loss, he was helping others. Well done my friend!

When a young life is lost, it is tragic, when those closest feel like they could have ... should have done something, it is even more tragic. To be clear, there is no blame here, nothing that could have been done, but that does not stop friends from playing out the "what if "scenarios over and over.

Our son Brett has been through this journey as he lost a very close friend and like Sebastian, helped his friends process pain, loss and grief while he walk that deep valley. Its just gut wrenching.

So Sebastian, we pray for you ... we pray with you. We cry with you and we love you. We pray for your friends and for their families as they go through this gut wrenching loss.

This is my hope ... as you face the reality that life and death live as neighbours in our world, may you continue to choose life. Yes, there is always hope! Gut wrenching hope.