Five Years in the Valley of Shadow

Five years ago today, my heart was broken and bruised.

Five years ago, my son died.

Five years ago, he was six years old.

Five years ago, I was lost.

Today, I am still lost.

I continue to stumble my way through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, trying all the while to pretend like I am a normal human being, capable of life.

I know the Lord is with me, and I am not alone.

Still, I feel alone.

Because life goes on. Time moves on. You adjust. You change. You become. Just like you did when he was born. Just like you did when every new challenge presented itself. You just do. You have responsibilities. You’re still a husband. Still a father. Still a pastor. Still alive. No matter how much you want to run and hide, life just doesn’t allow it, because life goes on…