Thursday, July 18, 2013

A Tale of Two Losses

His name was Bill.  On July 13, he woke up preparing to head off for a family vacation and took a bike ride in the early morning prior to departure.  Before he made it home, he collapsed on his bike of heart complications and died.  

Dr. Bill Cutrer was a physician on campus at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He began his career as an OBGYN and followed after serving as a pastor.  A doctor for the body and the soul.  He previously was Director of A Woman's Choice Pregnancy Center in Louisville, where women came contemplating aborting their unborn children.  He was pivotal in bringing the 4D ultrasound to that clinic and there are countless people alive today, I'm sure, because Dr. Cutrer was able to express to their Mothers the importance and value of every human life.  He also was an advocate of the sanctity of marriage.  Many a couple testified that the counsel they received from Dr. Cutrer, whether on marriage or fertility - will ever be grateful for his impact on their lives and marriage.

Dr. Cutrer's love of Jesus and obedience in following Him will leave a legacy that will forever be felt for generations to come.  The world has lost a great and godly man.  

His name was Cory.  On July 13, he was found dead in his Vancouver, Canada, hotel room of an apparent overdose - heroin and alcohol.  He was 31 years old.

Cory Monteith's parents divorced when he was 7 years old and at age 13 he began using marijuana and alcohol.  After attending many truancy schools and never graduating high school, his Mom and friends had an intervention at age 19 and got him to rehab.  Finally in 2011, he received his high school diploma.  His big break came in 2009 when he was cast as football player, Finn Hudson, on Glee.  Even this success didn't stop Cory's struggle with addiction.  He had continually been in and out of rehab, leaving for his final time in May.  Along the way, his on-screen and off-screen girlfriend, Lea Michele, stood by his side committed to see him through.  

Cory appeared on Inside the Actors' Studio in 2012 where James Lipton posed this question to him, "What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?" Cory's response was, "Uh, sorry I haven't been around.  There's a good explanation."

There appears to be no evidence of a love for or following of Christ.  Cory's life seems absent of the hope of eternal life with Jesus by his actions and words.  The world has lost a Hollywood star that's life was replete with addiction, brokenness and hopelessness.  

The loss of these two men cause me to grieve....it's the best of griefs and the worst of griefs.  One man I grieve, not for him, for I have no doubt Dr. Cutrer is celebrating at the feet of Jesus.  But I grieve for the loss his family experiences, and the loss our world experiences of such a great man of God.  One man I grieve, also for the loss his family and friends experience, but also that he is most likely not at the feet of Jesus and his suffering of this world is minimal compared to what he may be experiencing at this moment.  

Two men.  Two lives lived.  Two lives lost.  Two types of grief.  

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