Everything Can Change In an Instant
I was on my way out the door yesterday to my last day of teaching for the year (and don’t let anyone tell you that the teachers aren’t as excited about this as their students!) when I looked down at my phone and saw a message from my husband.
When I read it, I stopped in my tracks, stunned.
A dear friend had died suddenly in her sleep. Sandy Rufener started out as my high school English teacher, but over the years had grown into a mentor and a friend.
And she was gone – just like that.
Yesterday, was also the day my youngest son graduated from high school.
Life Is a Neverending Cycle
Two such different events, but both endings that signal a beginning. As I moved through my day yesterday, trying to process two such big things, I was reminded that life is a continual cycle of endings and beginnings. Before one thing begins, something else has to end, no matter how small or big.
Mrs. Rufener (no matter how many times she told me to call her Sandy and no matter how many times I managed to do it, she will always be Mrs. Rufener in my head), ended her life here on earth but started a whole new one in heaven.
In recent years, funerals have started to be called celebrations or homegoings, and I really love that concept – especially for believers. Yes, losing someone you love is hard and sad and difficult. I don’t want to diminish anyone’s grief, having walked the path of loss twice myself in recent years, but if that person is a believer, there is also so much hope. This world is not all there is. Death is not the end of a stand-alone story. It is just the ending of the first book in the series.
For Brody, even though graduating high school is truly a celebration, it also signals an ending, a change. He has to leave behind what he knows, the friends he has spent his days with for the past 14 years, the security of family, and move into the unknown. In order to move on to the next chapter in his life, he has to close this one. You can’t find out what happens in the next chapter if you linger in the previous one. You have to turn the page.
The Future – Whatever It Is – Takes Courage
So, yesterday wasn’t exactly the day I thought it would be. Instead of simply walking through this milestone with my youngest child, I found myself slapped in the face with the reality that we just don’t know what tomorrow will bring – or even that it will come. But I was also comforted that every ending – no matter how final it might seem – also signals a beginning, too.
Yesterday highlighted a strange but beautiful paradox. As Mrs. Rufener’s life came to an end, my son’s life is just beginning. But at the same time, my son was also experiencing an ending, while Mrs. Rufener was entering into a glorious new beginning in heaven.
Both of them, Brody and Mrs. Rufener, are stepping into the unknown, but that’s okay because God’s promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us no matter if that next step is onto a college campus for the first time or onto heaven’s shores where God waits with outstretched arms.
I’ll leave you with the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, a hymn redone by Chris Tomlin.
All The Way My Savior Leads Me
All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guideAll the way my Savior leads me
[Chorus:] You lead me and keep me from falling
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living Bread
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow meAll the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood
And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the wayAll the way my Savior leads me
All the way my Savior leads me
© 2008 SixstepsrecordsChristian lyrics – ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME LYRICS – CHRIS TOMLIN
5 Comments on Every Beginning Comes With an Ending
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Beautifully written words put into heart felt feelings. Each ending into the start a new beginning! She was an amazing lady. Brody is an talented young man.
I will always remember her motto to grow old with glitter. 🙂
Rosanne,
This writing is beautifully expressed and SO TRUE! I was once again remined that God is no respecter of persons. We know that we were born to die and as blunt as it seems – it is true. Mrs.
Rufener was a true soul winner and compassionate about people. As for Brody he is entering a new phase of life. Exciting as it may seem to him, there will be temptations and hurdles in the way. Our part is to trust the promises of God and pray for Brody faithfully. Dear Rosanne, the longer you live the more you realize that without God – we can do nothing. John 15:5
Love you,
Mom
You are so right – the older I get the more I realize that, as the old hymn says, I need Jesus every single hour. 🙂
Rosanne – Loved reading this piece. While truly a loss for those here on earth, you remind us of the awesome new beginning for Mrs. Rufener. So many great memories of English class with her.