Tragic News for Journey IFC and Austin

I have been a bit off the journey here lately - an unexpected divorce intervened in my otherwise easygoing life - and I felt the need to be in one place for while, so I've been attending Riverbend. Last Sunday morning, I found out that a valued member of the Austin Christian community, David Gentiles, died in a tragic accident.

You may recall my visit to Journey Imperfect Faith Community, in which David Gentiles spoke. I found David to be such a wonderful person to listen to. In fact, when I went back to Journey for Ash Wednesday, it was David who prayed over me, applied the ashes to my forehead and then gave me a big bear hug before I left the service. I'm not much of a hugger and was a little taken aback when this stocky man grabbed me, but he was so warm and loving, I couldn't help but be touched. This death touches so many people beyond the three girls he raised by himself and the group of people at Journey IFC. It's hard to know why the Lord lets things like this happen. Is there a lesson to be learned? Is death just an inevitable evil we must face and there is nothing more to say?

In pondering David's beautiful life and tragic death, I can see one thing that will be a challenge for those at Journey. Let me back up first and say that one of the distinguishing marks of Journey is that people of all backgrounds in all the various places in their lives are welcome. Questions are welcomed and sometimes the answers to those questions aren't easy. Is there really a God? Why does He allow such evil in the world? How do we know we are worshiping Him as He desires? Do you ever get mad at Him? Do you ever question His motives? These types of questions, the types we often ask deep within ourselves but fear ever expressing them outwardly, are not only welcome but encouraged at Journey. I imagine this means there are people there who are at various crossroads in their Christian lives. They may even teeter on the brink of unbelief, but something continues to draw them to the faith community.

David was a beacon among those people. He made Christianity make sense because you could see the love of Christ in his face, see the movement of God in his life. How will those people react to this tragedy? This may be one of the first big challenges for new or renewed Christians who have found Journey IFC a safe place to seek answers. I believe that, in 10 years or so, people will look back at Journey and see this moment, this period, as a turning point in the life of the people. How they respond and react, whether they grow colder or closer, may very well be a reaction to David's life and death. I believe they will come out better. I have to believe that because I've seen the love they have for one another and I'm sure David's prayers are still felt over the people as he communes with God in a very real and new way. His journey with them is over, but his journey with God has just moved to a new level. This is, indeed, a very important time for Journey and it is an opportunity for them to feel the love of God through the tears and loss.

I've been thinking about them lately. I'll have to try to get over there in the new year. I believe I will see a hurt community that is strengthened through their trial.

Lord, grant your servant, David Gentiles, peace as he now rests in your presence, with all the saints of God.