When unreality meets tragedy - The Chris Benoit Story

I came home from church tonight wanting to sit and drink a Diet Coke, go over some stuff on the computer, reflect on a few things, and - yes - watch wrestling. Tonight, was supposed to be a three-hour “funeral service” for a man who everyone knows is not dead.

Instead, the unreality world of professional wrestling met the sad tragic world of life, again, as professional wrestler Chris Benoit, 40, was found dead in his Atlanta home. Also found dead were his wife Nancy, and seven-year-old son Daniel.

The death is being investigated as a murder-suicide. The Atlanta Journal Constitution and WAGA report that police believe Benoit murdered his wife and son and then killed himself on Monday.
Raw commentator Jim Ross call Benoit one of the best friends he had. Jerry Lawler said it was not right.

We never know why these tragedies occur, and we may never know the situations that led to the murder-suicide. But we have faith in a God who loves and will comfort those who morn and heal in these tragedies.

I can’t even begin to imagine what these families are dealing with in this loss right now, especially given the latest turn of events.

The Pandemic Flu and the Church

Today, my company offered an interesting lunch discussion on the possibilities of a pandemic flu outbreak in the coming years. According to the speaker, it’s no longer a question of if but when the country will face a pandemic flu outbreak.

One of the topics that sparked my interest was the role faith organization - that’s code word for the church - will play during a pandemic flu. There are the obvious forms of providing emotional care to the sick and to workers who are dealing with so much sickness and death. But there are the “social distancing” aspects that the church may have to be involved in, such as closing worship services when the community-at-large is asked to stay home during an outbreak.

The question is during an outbreak what should the role of the church be, especially as it relates to not holding worship services. And also is the church really prepared for a role in helping to inform and to promote healthy living conditions in the case of an outbreak?