Life Under the Fading Sun
Originally posted on Instagram December 18, 2025. My Dad passed away on December 22, 2025.
My Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer that had metastasized to his bones back in August of 2025. My sisters and I, and many others were taking turns spending time with my parents and trying to help my Dad through his treatments. I was struggling with the bittersweet nature of the Christmas Season, while watching my Dad deteriorate in front of me. Below are my thoughts, four days before my Dad passed away.
I spent extra time watching the sunset this evening. There is a part of me that didn’t want to see it go and yet it is night now. I lingered talking to a friend, rambling cause I didn’t want to go and have it end. I have been listening to sad songs that convey sad realities and I finally realized its because they reflect our human experience, life “under the sun” as the author of Ecclesiastes would write. We suffer and struggle and yearn for consolation and answers. Even our parents who were our rocks crumble in our hands. And we will likewise crumble, as will our children in their time.
The wind blows outside, reshaping reality for the morning. The thorns and thistles work through the night to encroach upon work, scraping our hands, creating stress and striving. Friends or their loved ones get sick and die. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” also from Ecclesiastes. Even Christ on the cross cried in anguish, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The Spirit cries out on our behalf, “Abba! Father!”
And yet, we are also to “Consider the lilies of the field…” and “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” And, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”
Grief is embraced by hope. Sorrow is girded in joyful expectation. Sickness claims a future restoration. Despair is shaken off for a future triumph. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
With tears in my eyes I can turn away now, from that fading sun, “Come Lord Jesus. Come.”
