With heavy but grateful hearts

Fr. Nutter announced very sad news this morning: while on a mission trip in Colorado, one of the Cornerstone kids passed away. Very little is known about the cause or circumstances of this death; all care and energy are centered now on bringing the kids and counselors home and providing pastoral care to those involved.

The Cornerstone counselors and participants are a part of the everyday life at Palmer. For those of you unfamiliar with it, Cornerstone is a 12 Step recovery program for teenagers addicted to alcohol and drugs. Palmer supports this program by providing space for their gatherings and activities.

This death is heart-wrenching for anyone who has struggled with addiction, for those who have, or have had, teenagers, for all who see the lives that are saved and blessed by this program. In a post a few days ago I wrote about how intertwined our lives are, and how the absence of any one of us is noticeable, and leaves an empty place. This is a tragic example.

My intention today was to write about Stephen Ministry and SHAPE surveys. That will have to be tomorrow. I write about this instead not for the obvious reasons (although your prayers are urgently requested) but because of the reminder this situation offers of the awesome, and awe-inspiring, greatness of the love and hope Cornerstone brings to the lives it touches. I corresponded today with someone whose child was on this trip. The message from this parent had nothing of despair or hopelessness about it. It was simply this, shown as it was written to me:

"I've always been impressed with the cornerstone kids and I am sure this is no exception. They are shaken to the core but drawing a ton of inner strength and truly relying on their higher power. It is awesome to witness. God is good."

This parent stands beside a teenager who has just experienced something we hope to shield our children from forever, but still says, God is good. God IS good, and his spirit imbues our life together. What can I say in the face of that? I am grateful for a loving God and the passionate ministry of, and at, Palmer Church.