Ascension : From The Grotto
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 26.02.2009 (Article Archived on 12.03.2009)
This is one of the most difficult homilies I have had to write. My extended family was struck by an almost unbelievable tragedy on the evening of Sunday, February 15th.
This is one of the most difficult homilies I have had to write. My extended family was struck by an almost unbelievable tragedy on the evening of Sunday, February 15th. My daughter Maggie and son-in-law Aaron lost their brother-in-law Jason and his two children, Hannah and Jack in a car accident on a slippery road in Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada. Hannah was five years old, Jack was only two. Aaron’s sister Christy, in one terrible moment in time, lost the people most precious to her.
The family is shattered by this tragedy. Maggie was especially close to her niece and nephew; they were almost like her own children. She was always visiting Hannah and Jack and taking them places. She and Aaron had spent the day before with the children at the local museum. Her Facebook albums are filled with pictures of these adorable little ones playing at the beach, dressing up, playing soccer, at dance recitals, and proudly showing off their Christmas presents. It is almost inconceivable to think that their smiling faces will now and forever only be seen in pictures and in the memories of all those who loved them so much.
Their father Jason was a police officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As such, he was trained in defensive driving, and in the handling of motor vehicles under all conditions. So what went so terribly wrong that he lost control of his vehicle and ran head on in to a bus? How could this happen? Why could something so terrible happen? We see these awful events in the news and feel sorrow for the families involved, but we never imagine in our worst nightmares, that it could happen in our own family. Until it does.
There are no words that can adequately describe the pain in my daughter’s voice when I speak to her. The family and she especially, have had a rough time in the last two years. This past New Year’s I promised her it would be a better year. And now this terrible tragedy has befallen them. How could I be so wrong? We just never know what is in store for us. Fate can be unbelievably cruel. It is so true that you never know when it will be your last moment on earth. Or worse than that even, the last moments of those you love so dearly.
I don’t hold God accountable for these tragedies. He couldn’t be so cruel as to cause this. Fate is the cruel one, and God is the comfort in moments like this, the terrible, dark moments of our lives when it seems like we cannot go on through the pain and heartache and sorrow. All any of us can do is keep moving, keep praying, keep leaning on those around us, and trust that somehow, we will find the strength to do what we can to survive.
I know my daughter is strong, but no matter how tough she is, I worry about her. She is trying to be strong for her beloved sister-in-law with whom she is so close. They even work together on the maternity ward. Christy is suffering the worst experience a young wife and mother can live through, losing her husband and her children. Jason’s grandparents are grieving the loss of their son. Grandparents are grieving the loss of their precious grandchildren. Everyone, young and old, is grieving the loss of friends.
So, in this time of sorrow, I am asking something of my friends; to please pray for Christy Porter, Maggie and Aaron Adams, and all the Adams and Porter families. Please pray for their lost loved ones, Jason, Hannah and Jack, and pray that God will give them the strength to find their way through the pain, despair and sorrow.
May the time come when we can look back on the pictures and memories with a smile, and not just tears and grief. May we remember that they reside in the Lord’s house now, and that they are special angels looking over their loved ones. And let us take comfort in knowing that Hannah and Jack are with their father in heaven.
May God bless us all.
 
Jack, Hannah and Jason Porter, may you forever rest in peace.
I would like to thank my friends here on Ascension and throughout the world for their kind words of comfort, their sympathies for Christy, Maggie, Aaron and all our families and most of all for their prayers.
Thank you to Canon Clive Duncan for a comforting memorial service, Kerry Lawrence who played such wonderful music, Major Jay Block for reading the 23rd Psalm, and to Soo Matthews and Bernard Peterson for reciting the poems. My sincerest thanks go out to Justine Yon for the notice and program. To all who have helped me in any way to get through the difficult days, and who I know will continue to be good friends, I send my thanks and my prayers.
May God bless each and every one of you.
Shari
Let us always remember that death is not the end, but simply part of our journey, a horizon that is simply the limit of our sight
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