Connections Archive

Bruce Manners
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor

Laughter and tears. I've experienced both over the past couple of days.

I felt an incredible sadness at the graveside and then again during the memorial service for Eric Magnusson on Sunday. Sudden death may be a blessing for the individual (he had said he never wanted to linger in a nursing home), but it's a wrench for family and friends.

For those who don't know, Eric was a former science lecturer and then president of Avondale College for 10 years. He was intelligent, academically well respected (he refused offers from several universities to teach at Avondale) and passionate about Avondale. He led Avondale through the '70s when, for the first time, it gained Australian accreditation for its courses.

More importantly, he was a gracious and caring individual. That never changed.

To see his three sons and two grandchildren pay tribute to their father and grandfather was a moving experience. You could sense the love and respect-and the shock of the sudden loss.

That was Sunday.

Yesterday and this morning I listened to the Festival of Faith speaker, Ron Halverson Jr, and there was laughter all around me. His unique story-telling style made you laugh and brought joy to the soul. His messages drew you to the One who is light to the world.

And I thought about the fact that less than 24 hours earlier our church had been a place of tears.

Life brings both laughter and tears. There's a time for both said Solomon (Ecclesiastes 3) and they will remain until the time when God wipes away all tears (Revelation 21).

For now: Appreciate the moments of joy. Cherish them.

Be there for those who are in the dark valley, whatever its cause. They need us. Often we can?t do anything except be there. So often that's enough.

And in the midst of our own dark valleys there is still hope. The ultimate hope has a name-Jesus.