Is Death Normal? | Talking Beasts
The NarniaWeb family is grieving. “Rilian,” founder and co-host of this podcast, very suddenly lost his 2-year-old son on Saturday. Just 11 days after the birth of his second child.
We are asking listeners of Talking Beasts to consider making a donation to Rilian and his family as they mourn. This gift will help cover funeral and related expenses.
Donate here: gf.me/u/uk5p9z
UPDATE: The gift has been sent to Rilian. Thanks, everyone.
The episode originally planned for today has been postponed. Instead, Glumpuddle has some reflections:
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Praying for you, Rilian. May God comfort you in this time of grief.
And no, death is not normal. I trust Rilian’s son is now enjoying what is truly normal: the perfection and joy of the presence of God Himself. He is the only true enduring constant, and in Him we find our strength for times like this.
I lost my 97 year old grandfather in March. I know he’s with God now and young reunited with his kids but it still sucks for us because he’s not here. Death is not the way things are supposed to be but thankfully it won’t be this way always. Jesus made sure of that.
This episode reminds me of part of a book which happens to have been written by C. S. Lewis. I hesitate to quote it because quoting feels trite in the face of the death especially the unexpected death of a toddler. I assure you I’m not saying this to try to comfort Rilian or anyone. (It’s not even a comforting quote really.) It’s just hard think for me to think about things like this without remembering the quote.
The book’s called Till We Have Faces. The main character’s beloved sister has been killed and her tutor, who also loved her, tries to comfort her. He says, “Their evil-doing was vain and ignorant, as all evil deeds are. This is our comfort, that the evil was theirs, not hers. They say there was not a tear in her eye, nor did so much as her hand shake, when they put her to the Tree. Not even when they turned away and left her did she cry out. She died full of all things that are really good; courage, and patience, and—and—Aiai! Aiai—oh Psyche, oh my little one——” Then his love got the better of his philosophy and he pulled his mantle over his head and at last, still weeping, left me.
Afterwards the tutor tells her that he “began to philosophise too late” but that she’s younger than him and can succeed in mastering her emotions. But it’s pretty clear that no matter how philosophical you are or how natural you believe death to be, it’s still devastating. There’s nothing that can change that. (At least not on this Earth.)
P.S.
It’s pleasing that the GoFundMe campaign is going so well. Not that it can do undo the damage done to Rilian’s family. But small comfort is better than none. Like the protagonist of Till We Have Faces, we can be Antigone even though we can’t be Iphigenia. (It’s probably inappropriate and insensitive for me to keep talking about books in a time of grief. I really don’t want to trivialize what happened by comparing it to fiction. But a lot of the time literary references are the easiest way for me to express myself.)
Rilian, I will be praying for you. I would say that I know how you feel, except I don’t. No one can really, truly know. All we can do is pray for you. May God hold you up during this time, and the Spirit of Aslan guide and comfort you.
Sending my thoughts, prayers and condolences. I’m so sorry man.
Amen. I also pray God’s comfort to you and your family, Rillian. No, death is not normal, but the Lord has promised that someday it will end. In the meantime, he offers help, comfort and hope for his faithful child through his word.
My deepest condolences go to your family. I cannot comprehend the pain and grief that you must be facing.
Rilian, you, your wife, and your entire family have my deepest condolences. I can’t even begin to imagine what you guys must be going through.
Dear Rilian and family, I am praying for you to experience the comforting presence of our Lord Jesus. My pillar of comfort is expressed by Jesus’ own words: “now you have grief, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice! Your joy – no one can take from you.” John 16:22
Rilian, our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. May the Lord provide comfort and. strength in coping with your loss.
“But God will look to every soul like it’s first love because He is it’s first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone, because you were made for it – made for it stitch by stitch as a glove is made for a hand.”
Thank you for sharing!
I also will be praying for you, Rillian! I have lost loved ones, but I can’t pretend to understand what you’re going through. Just know that we are here for you. I don’t know what your beliefs are, but since you are into Narnia like me, I’d like to encourage you with this quote from The Last Battle: “But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan.”
My heart is broken for you Rilian. Sending my love to you and your family at what should have been a joyous time.
So sorry and many prayers. Thanks so much for posting this. I lost a friend two years ago who was like a father to me, and it still hurts.
John 11 very much came to my mind as you described Aslan’s emotion at death.
My heart hurts for you and your family. Praying for you all.
Loss, disability, disease, and death easily overwhelm us. When they attack, they seem so powerful and we are so weak and small. We must keep proper perspective (as impossible as that seems) to see them for the defeated foes they truly are. We must remember that Jesus beat them on His cross and he promises to restore all things—to make all things new—for those who believe on him and claim his victory. The book “All Things New” by John Eldredge greatly encouraged me when I experienced unexpected, sudden loss. This video presents its main hopeful message: https://youtu.be/lFCrhEIb0ng Be Encouraged, all will soon be restored and set right! Tragedy is not our tale; our story is not yet told . As believers, you and your wife will be reunited with your restored son on this Earth.
Sending my prayers, Rilian and family. I can’t imagine at all
And thank you Glumpuddle and the other people behind the podcast for this episode, I needed it.