Joy in death. At face value it appears entirely impossible to the world. The world holds onto this life with white knuckle strength. The world wants to get all it can while it still can before life is over. Death is something not to be talked about because it is scary and unknown. Today I experienced the exact opposite. There is joy in death because Christ has broke the power of death, hell and the grave. I am 25 years old and have not yet experienced the death of an immediate family member. Many times I have wondered what that experience will be like. How would I feel? That feeling made itself known to me on June 1, 2008. My grandpa is dying. A heart attack did substantial damage to a body already suffering from bone cancer. His organs are shutting down now and it will probably not be that much longer. His children and grandchildren gather in Room 305 of the Fairview Hospital in Burnsville, MN. We pack about 15 people into his small room and the room temperature quickly rises from all the body heat. While the temperature rises, the tears begin to fall. My grandpa's pastor comes to perform communion for the last time. As the elements are passed, we begin singing cherished hymns. Amazing Grace, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Blessed Assurance. As we begin I look across the room at my Grandma who is crying uncontrollably. It has a ripple effect throughout the room, yet hasn't struck me yet. As I begin to sing Blessed Assurance my voice trails off. I feel it like a wave that is slowly rising but quickly gaining momentum. And then it hits. I can no longer sing because I am overcome with emotion. Crying leads to sobbing. To think that my grandpa, who has been apart of my entire life, will soon be gone hits my consciousness with full force. My mind plays a fast forward memory of all the wonderful times I've had with him. Holidays, fishing trips, road trips and countless games of cribbage. The singing has ended. The pastor is now praying. As he finishes each of his grandchildren say goodbye to him. We all know that this may not be a "see you later" goodbye but a "see you on the other side" goodbye. As I come up to him I lean in close to his ear and say, "The Lord is my strength and my shield. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is my light and my salvation of whom shall I be afraid? One thing I have asked of the Lord and that will I seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of and gaze upon his beauty." I can barely choke out the words as sobbing grabs a hold of me. I then see him crying as well. I've never seen my grandpa cry. I then say good bye and walk out of the room. There have been a handful of times in my life where I have been very aware of the presence of God. That moment was one of them. Because in the midst of tears there is a joy that far surpasses the sadness that I will have of grandpa being gone. His body is destroyed by cancer. He has been through tremendous pain the last few months. My greatest desire is for him to see his Author face to face. To dance on the streets that are golden. To be restored to a perfect body. I am not sorrowful. I am joyful. My grandpa is ready to leave this shadowland and experience true life. Why would that sadden me? O death where is your victory and grave where is your sting? You have no power over us for Jesus Christ has trampled it underneath the power of the cross. Grandpa- I love you and want to walk in your footsteps of generosity and servanthood. | 
