One Moment in Time

"Give me one moment in time

When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time

I will be

I will be

I will be free."  

Source -  http://www.musicbabylon.com 

The news of Whitney Houston's death on Saturday flooded me with a range of emotions as I'm sure it did you.  Having friends and family who have battled, are battling and have lost their battle with addiction, Whitney's death hit really close to home.

Gratefulness. I am grateful that God allowed her to share her angelic voice and talent He gave her. Truly there has never been any one like her. I also felt selfishly grateful - grateful that I never received the call of a fight not won. For half of her life, my sister battled with her addiction. So much time lost, so many relationships compromised, so much of herself masked by this enemy's trap. It is truly by the grace of God she is delivered from her addiction. She will be sober and clean for five years. I am so incredibly proud of her. I saw her struggle first-hand and felt completely helpless. All I was able to do was pray for God's intervention. Whitney's death reminded me of how grateful I am for my sister's life.

Anger. At drug lords and drug dealers who to me are the devil incarnate. So much pain has been caused by drugs for those who take them and those they impact around them. Mostly I am mad at Whitney for underestimating the power of addiction and taking the first hit. For throwing her God-given talent away and not using it for good and God's glory. At the fact that we never got to see her comeback. I really wanted her to comeback! I wanted to believe that someone who grew up in the church and knew God was able to fight this and be a victor. I know that there are things we will never know about God's ways. I know that they are not our ways. I just really was hoping for a different ending and am trusting that through her very public life, someone is saved. God, I know you have your reasons and trust You.

Sadness. I was really praying for her to pull through. I remember watching her on Oprah a few years ago and just praying that she was able to channel God's strength (the strength she knew when she was singing gospel in the church choir as a teen) to conquer the yearning, the desire, the sheer temptation. Sadness for her daughter, her family and her friends who will no longer see her.  The journey to freedom from addiction is a long, arduous one - sometimes filled with U-turns instead of do-not-enter signs.

Relief. I feel an incredible sense of relief for Whitney. Relieved that she is no longer a slave to her addiction or the things of this world. Relieved she is with God now and blessing the heavenly choirs with her angelic voice.

In the end it is her life, her music, her voice, her beauty that I will celebrate and remember - not her death.  May you rest in peace Whitney...we'll see you one day for your earthly life was just "One Moment in Time" and you are free.

Dear Lord, I lift up Whitney's family and friends. Grant them peace and comfort. I lift up all those who struggle with addiction Lord. In Jesus' name I pray for the release of the bondage and stronghold the enemy has on them. I pray that they seek you more than the drug they chase. Lord so many of our brothers and sisters let the weight of this world drive them away from you when they should be running towards you. Lord remind me to always run toward you. Let me not take the talents you have given me for granted. Use them and me for your purpose. Lord, finally I pray that we see the good that you want to come out of this situation. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.