The tragedy of Air France Flight 447 will be something that will go down in history. Its devastating to see the families of those that have been lost and to read about the people that will never again be seen by their loved ones.
The Times [London] reports:
“If no survivors are found, the disappearance of flight 447 would be the worst disaster in Air France’s 75-year history. The airline confirmed last night that the missing included 72 French, 58 Brazilians, 26 Germans, and a number of other nationalities.”
I can’t begin to imagine the loss of all those people. These were co-workers, friends, doctors, pipe-layers, schoolchildren, husbands, wives and some much more.
But how do you help? What is it that you can do to be there with these people in their time of loss, tragedy and dealing with the emotion of not knowing what happened or where their loved one might be?
The LA Times has ran an interesting piece about a man named, Denoix de Saint Marc.
“He and other counselors provided by the French government and Air France were there to help hundreds of people who were still in shock and denial more than a day after the airline’s Flight 447 disappeared during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
Denoix de Saint Marc, who lost his own father 20 years ago in an airplane terrorist attack, acknowledged that there were limits to what he could offer those whose family, friends and colleagues were among the 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the Airbus A330.
“I just ask them about the person who was on the plane,” he said. “I hold their hands, and look them in eyes.”“
What more can you do? I applaud this man. Nothing is written about his religious affiliation, but its clear that a Biblical principle is unfolding here. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “… and weep with them that weep.” (Rom. 12:15) There are times when you simply don’t know what to do for someone that is grieving. Well, we could follow the example of Denoix de Saint Marc and the exhortation of Paul to weep with them that weep.
Christians can even go another step farther and be comforted with the reality that in this life we are simply just passing through. Passing through to a land that is better than here. A place of peace, comfort and security – that place is called HEAVEN!
So today, help those that grieve, love those are dear to you and make sure that you are just passing through to a land that is fairer than day.
