Tragedy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Maria Chapman, the 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother.
(This undated family photo shows from left to right: Will Franklin, Maria, Steven Curtis, Shaoey, MaryBeth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily Chapman.)

Steven's manager, Jim Houser, wrote the following on the musician's website: "Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again."

I was stunned to hear the news this morning and join with friends, family and fans in grieving the loss of this precious little girl. Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorite artists primarily because he is a singer/songwriter who, rather than just performing someone else's material, pens his own words, pouring his soul onto paper, putting melody to his moods.

I first heard his song "More to This Life" back in the mid-nineties at a particularly low-point and began listening to his other works. I'm reminded of the chorus at this tragic time in the Chapman family's life:
"But theres more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And theres more than this life alone can be."

As the Apostle Paul reminds us, "Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who fall asleep; for we grieve, but not like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

"We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence... Therefore we do not lose heart... we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:14-18)