So in case you don’t know I am a huge fan of the show The Walking Dead.
Typically I stay away from zombie/horror type shows and movies. However I was hooked on the show from Season 1 when I saw it on Netflix. The character development and story line are so real and rich even when placed in a fake world.
SPOILER ALERT
Last night while watching episode 5 of season 3 it was very apparent that the writers were putting all characters, Rick in-particular, through a great deal of suffering and grief. The whole episode Rick is so over taken by the death of his wife that he wasn’t even thinking about his safety or the safety of the group. All he cares about is finding his wifes body.
As we see Rick kill zombie after zombie in order to get to the room where is wife is at it is apparent that he isn’t thinking clearly and even when confronted by Glen makes it clear that he is not to be stopped or talked out of finding her. Rick is working through his grief the only way he knows how. The writers were smart to not write any lines for Rick. This body language is much more powerful, and real, than any words.
As I stated above this is one of the things I love about the show. It takes real issues, suffering and grief, and deals with them in its own unique way. Anyone that has ever lost someone unexpectedly can relate to what Rick is feeling in those moments.
However the one thing that the Walking Dead has only dealt with in small portions is religion, more importantly God. There have only been a handful of times when the show has even tried to address the spiritual side of humanity. In order to deal the the amazing amounts of loss and grief the survivors are left to compartmentalize move on without any real sense of hope.
Unlike the characters in The Walking Dead we do have and acknowledge a loving and caring God. Yes we have suffering and grief and it is painful and heart breaking, but in those moments we are not alone. In those moments there is hope.
Tullian Tchividjian, the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, has written a book on just this subject entitled Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free. If you are dealing suffering and grief I would encourage you to pick it up at your local book store or download it from Amazon.
Remember that though the pain is great and the grief is deep there is a God that loves and cares for you. You are not in this alone.
Addition Resource: Matt Chandlers sermon at T4TG 2010 on suffering and his battle with brain cancer.
Pastor Mike Moore 