Trinity

John 3: 16 – 17

Jesus continued, “Yes, God so loved the world as to give the Only Begotten One, that whoever believes may not die, but have eternal life. God sent the Only Begotten into the world not to condemn the world, but that through the Only Begotten the world might be saved”.

Mum suffered through cancer three times and eventually succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Through all her difficulties, she rarely complained. Even as her storehouse of knowledge and remembrance was ransacked, she never lost her sweet nature or quick wit.

Thirty or so people (friends, co-workers, relatives) showed up at our doorstep, when they heard the news of Mum’s death. We sat around the dining-room table, laughing, eating, drinking, and reminiscing. No one came empty-handed, and everyone pitched in to prepare plates, serve food, sort through photos, make phone calls, and remind us of what an unforgettable woman Mum was.

Feeling suddenly overwhelmed by the energy, warmth, and deep-down goodness of the people sitting around the table that night, I realised that I was witnessing God in action. The God whom Christians call triune – Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier – was present in that moment of great sadness, salvaging it and making it holy. I was experiencing firsthand the central truth of our faith: that despite our suffering, sorrow, and death, our lives have meaning. Compassion, joy, and love endure. Made in the image of our trinitarian God, my mother’s life, grace, and spirit are everlasting.