The David Guinn

I listened to an interview on Public Broadcasting a few days ago with Maurice Sendak, the author of “Where the Wild Things Are”, and I wept. Not because the interview was bad, but because Mr. Sendak was so lonely and misinformed.

He talked about how lonely and hurting he was, because his long-time companion had died.  They had lived together for over 50 years.

He also said he had spent the last few weeks crying and depressed because a couple they had known for years had died only a few weeks apart.

“Since I don’t believe there is anything after life here on earth, I know I will never see them again”, he said.

Here is someone that has gained all this world has to offer:

Fame

Success

Riches

The adulation of his peers. He had won several literary awards. Been the guest of Presidents and Kings.

And yet, he sounded like the loneliest, most miserable, downhearted person I had ever heard.

He had no hope for the future.  He had no hope for himself or mankind in general.

His voice was as downcast as a mortal failure breathing its last gasp.

and I wept.

Why do we think we are the absolute final authority on EVERYTHING?

We seem to think a thing is true, simply because we BELIEVE it to be true.

No facts.

No proof.

No eye witness accounts.

Why don’t we believe the truth as it is revealed to us even in things we see every day; the flowers, trees, baby’s smiles, love we feel for and from others, the sun rising and setting every day?

So many things. Yet we continue to believe there is no God. No Savior. Nothing.

I wanted to tell Mr. Sendak that there IS hope. That there IS life after this one. That there IS a Savior who can relieve our pain of being alone.

But I could not. And the pain of feeling his pain persists. For I have been there.

Then I remembered:

1 Cor. 1:3-4, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

God will comfort Mr. Sendak, if he will allow it.