Abyss: the bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies.

(Definition & Meaning according to Merriam-Webster)

I listened to a short clip from Pebo Bryson. It was a heartfelt message of gratitude to healthcare professionals, workers and providers. Firefighters, patient transport, emergency services, doctors, nurses and care technicians, etc. He went on to say, “You don’t know how important they all are until you need them. They are the only ones standing between you and the abyss.” That statement frazzled me a little. The choice of the word “abyss” felt taunting and daunting. I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. Consequently, I responded audibly, though I was by myself in the room. I was struck by his reference of the “abyss”, especially while at the same time, I was looking at these absolutely amazing pictures of the most beautiful feline creatures that my daughter was looking at in real time. (Shared here). And I said, Abyss? Really?” Now thinking quietly, I thought, “Wow! That is his imagery of death. That must be scary”, because in the end no healthcare professional could keep him from it—no matter their best efforts.

As a “Believer”, I have a different perspective about death. And no healthcare professional stands between me and its reality. I respect the healthcare professional—and I also respect that they have their limitations. That said, “Believers” often refer to and celebrate that Jesus raised Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter from the dead, but rarely do we revisit the reality that they eventually died anyway. We will ALL die.

That said, I am not anti-healthcare—of course not. I have worked in healthcare more than half my career which spans over 40 years. And truthfully, I may know more than I want to, but I digress.

But my point is that no matter what you believe in—who you believe in—it is hard to grasp that a God, Creator, and/or “universe” for those that place their faith in that, would be so mindful, intentional, strategic, generous, gracious, creative, extraordinary, and extravagant, to create, provide, and orchestrate such beautiful talent, creativity, provision, prosperity, love, abundance, and even stardom could be the same creator that would willingly relinquish all of that to an “abyss.”

I look as close as outside my window and see and hear exotic birds. I travel internationally—even locally and witness wonders that leave me breathless. My own life, gifts and talents are an amazing gift and handiwork of an extraordinary God. And when I see all of the different variations of “us”, the vast array of colors, birds, flowers, trees, bodies of water… I struggle to believe that anything, anyone that magnificent, intelligent, and loving would want its creation to fall off into an “abyss.”

And so I pray for any of us who is looking in the face of death clearer in view than others, that we truly take time to recognize all that is and has been our humanity—and reconcile that you are far more worthy of believing that your life/soul has to end in an “abyss.” I would have hoped that the extraordinary artist that was Peobo Bryson, would have at least taken hold of the idea of “a whole new world, and a new fantastic point of view.”

I pray your soul finds its rest in “A dazzling place you never knew” or imagined. 🙏🏾🤍 🧞

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