When I glance past the obituary page in the newspaper, I am sometimes struck by how many names are listed for loved ones that have been lost. As I look at the names, I think with empathy about the loved ones these people left behind. I say a prayer for the family and friends of the deceased. And then, assuming there were no names that I recognize, I move on to a different story in the paper.
But sometimes, there is a death…a loss…that makes our whole community pause. It catches us all off guard. We hear or read about it, and we gasp; and several seconds later, we realize that we need to start breathing again. It is a loss that shocks us and affects us all.
That happened this past month, when our community lost one of our graduating Owatonna High School seniors, Olivia Flores in a tragic car accident.
In the days immediately after her death, there was a hush that fell over the high school, and the city. Everyone was in shock. In recent days, the loss of Olivia is what people have wanted to talk about. There is an undercurrent of sadness in all our conversations. There is sorrow and empathy for Olivia’s family, for her friends, and for the community at Owatonna High School.
We grieve together.
So, what do we do when a community experiences a loss like this? At the risk of sounding simplistic, I believe that there are three places where we should place our energy:
First, we pray. We ask to be reminded of God’s presence in the midst of the emotion and the loss. We ask God to be with Olivia’s family…with her friends…with the school community…and with us all. And we ask God to remind us of the promises that God made to Olivia and to all of us. Eternal life, forgiveness of sin, a community of care, and that God will be with us always.
Second, we remember the one we lost, and we look to honor them by learning from their example and following their lead. In Olivia’s case, I’ve heard over and over this week that Olivia was one who welcomed and accepted all that she met, as they were. She didn’t judge or set expectations. She reflected the love of Jesus, who came as Savior of all. In these ways, I would like to become more like Olivia.
And finally, we support each other. We continue to support Olivia’s family. We continue to find ways to support her friends. We look for ways to reach out and show care and compassion for those who are grieving her loss. This is what people who follow Jesus do. We care for each other with the heart of our Savior.
There is an open wound in our community. We grieve together, and it hurts. But we have faith that in the midst of our community’s pain, God walks alongside us. And we are reminded that today, the promises God made to Olivia are fulfilled, and that she walks with Jesus. Over time…with love and compassion, our wound will heal. Our grief will lessen with time. But Olivia will not be forgotten. And God’s love for her, and for all of us, will be celebrated.
This article was originally published in the Owatonna People’s Press on June 1, 2024
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