What was my purpose?

This is your time, this is your dance.
Live every moment, leave nothing to chance.
Swim in the sea, drink of the deep,
Embrace the mystery of all you can be.

(This is Your Time, by Michael W Smith)

A family at Lane's church has suffered a great tragedy - the loss of their teenaged daughter, Talitha Ochoa, while they were serving with a mission in Africa. This, of course, is every parent's greatest fear, and Lane finds himself understandably asking whether he can ever see the purpose in her death.

I have found myself asking myself this very question, from time to time - what is the purpose of this? How can this cruel fate be a standing epitaph? I remember the heartbreaking scene of a fireman carrying Baylee Almon from the wreckage of the Murrah building - seeing the little yellow socks dangling on her small feet. Even though this was a faraway child I never knew, I could not understand this incomprehensible loss; how could a baby a day after celebrating her birthday have faced this end?

I have come to realize, with respect to Lane, that we are asking the wrong question, when we inquire into the purpose of someone's death. All that they were, all of the great and heaven-sent glory that is the dignity of either a baby or a young woman - this was their purpose: every ray of sunshine they brought into the world; every smile they raised on another's face, every bit of exuberance passed on in a moment's laugh. This was their very destiny.

Lane quotes a family member as having written about Talitha:

"She had a strong zeal for life and for others – a child totally sold out for Jesus; an evangelist’s heart; a passion for people and animals. Recently, she even offered to donate one of her kidneys to a dying woman in Uganda. …Such selflessness and self sacrifice embodied in such a young, godly child."

We could search for a lifetime looking for the purpose of a tragic loss, and we would never find it. But what if, as I suggested, that is the wrong question? I humbly propose that this is the real question:

What is the purpose of my life?

In Talitha's case, the purpose of her life is much easier to discern than the purpose of her passing. For if "such selflessness and self sacrifice" isn't an answer to the former, then what is?

Death is nothing. Its coming needs no purpose. And its apparent permanence is an illusion, a paper tiger. For it is in Talitha's very name, Aramaic for "little lamb," that God answers the pleas of those who mourn her.

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.

He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.

(Mark 5:35-42)