Seven years ago today I suddenly, unexpectedly lost a friend, a colleague, my boss, the senior pastor of our church. In that one day, many things changed for many of us. For me, it began a seven year journey of challenges that are best described as a series of gut punches.
As today dawned, I remembered. Some things you do not forget. Some hurts stay etched on your soul.
I reached out to those I know who are hurting more and remembering today too. That helped a little.
In my journal, I noted that my feelings surprise me. In seven years, it seems I would be more healed from that loss. But, today I can feel an actual physical pain in the same broken place in my heart where this grief lives. It feels gently healed but ever-so-tender, like new pink skin is growing there, very thin and delicate. It feels like I should shield it.
I don’t know what to do on a gray and achy day like this except to honor my feelings. To name them. To bathe them in prayer and in God’s Light. To say, “Yes, that happened and it really hurt, really mattered and really changed me.” A mentor once told me that our tears baptize our feelings. Today, my tears are at work in the Holy act of baptizing this loss once again.
God is a God of healing and so much healing has happened in these seven years. I celebrate that. I see it. I live it every day.
The entry in Jesus Calling today, February 19, says, You need to remember who I am in all my Power and Glory. What a Word this is. Even before this loss, God’s Glory has of course been on display. In the midst of it and in the years since, God has continued to shine.
Creation shows us this all the time: Pure darkness, then the first light of dawn. Heavy, angry storm clouds then a rainbow. Moonlight, starlight on a previously black night. God saying, Yes, you’ve had darkness but remember who I am in all my Power and Glory.
Today, I remember. I remember my friend. I recall the deep loss. I revisit the tender ache of it. And, most of all, I remember who God is.
Dr. Cindy Ryan is a pastor, a wife, a mother of three, friend and colleague of Dr. Ken Diehm, breast cancer survivor, Mimosa to Keller.
Dr. Cindy Ryan 
Cindy, you put words to my own feelings and I am sure to all those that knew Ken. Has it really been 7 years, the grief from that time seems fresher. I read the words in Jesus Calling today and felt the comfort too. Thank you for your words on this day!
Once again blessed by your words.
Has it really been 7 years! Feels like it happened yesterday and a long time ago at the same time-strange. You are forever a source of God’s bright light Cindy. What a treasure you are to me and my family.
Has it really been 7 years! It seems like it was yesterday and a long time ago at the same time…strange how the heart deals with time. What an amazing impact Ken had on me. So grateful for the short time I was able to know him. Thank you for being a constant source of God’s BRIGHT LIGHT Cindy- you are a treasure!
Love and prayers!