When people hear my story they are usually moved to tears. I
see the pity in their eyes—the shock, the sorrow. They cannot believe that
someone so young, so good, and so full of life could have died such a horrific,
agonizing death. For nearly five hours Woody suffered before the trauma of the
fall caused every organ in his body to shut down. I can still see his
blood-caked, swollen eyes, blood flowing from his nose and mouth; and his scalp
hanging from the back of his head, uncovering a skull that had been bashed by
the granite rock. His body was covered in lacerations. He was dying the minute
we reached him, yet we still prayed for a miracle. “How awful!” you may
exclaim, and you mourn for my loss. It moves you in a way you never expected.
You realize how short life is and that every day is a gift. Some people have
told me it has made them want to be a better parent or spouse. Something about
Woody’s death leaves an impression on every one who hears about it.
So why do we treat Easter like any other day? We dye eggs
and fill Easter baskets full of goodies. We may attend a Good Friday service
and walk through the Stations of the Cross, but we do it with as much zeal as
we do any other religious activity. We take communion without a tear in our
eyes. It has become so routine that we have become desensitized to what it all
means.
Jesus was only 33—ten years younger than Woody. You want to
talk about good? He was perfect. Yes, Woody’s death was horrific, but Jesus’
beating and death were ten times worse. And whereas Woody did not choose to die,
Jesus did. This is not a fairy tale. Jesus was a historical figure whose
beating and death can be proven. Four eyewitnesses recorded the whole gruesome
flogging and crucifixion in great detail. Tell me, why are you moved by my
account of Woody’s death, yet are completely complacent about the death of the
One who gave His life in order that you might have eternal life? His loss was
just as real to His mother, brothers, friends, and co-workers as Woody’s death
was to everyone who knew him.
I have witnessed a dreadful death. It scarred everyone who
was there that day. However, the death and resurrection we celebrate this
weekend should be much more impactful than what I experienced on Mother’s Day
2015. Please, think about that this Easter 2016.
