Death is a terrible intrusion into our lives. It leaves us only with memories and pictures.

This photograph is of an altar in the sailors memorial chapel in Newport at Yaquina Bay State Park. Also located in this park is the Yaquina Bay lighthouse. There’s access to a long stretch of beach from this park, yet this was the first time that I stepped inside the open air chapel.

I was surprised to see the pictures of people whose lives were lost at sea sitting on the altar. Along with these pictures are poems and letters expressing love for those who died.

There were numerous people in the park when I took this picture. One man asked me for a handout, others were walking up the steps to the lighthouse and others descending to the beach. I was the only person in the chapel.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 English Standard Version

Each one of us could place a picture, poem or letter on this altar. We’ve lost someone whom we love. Though death might separate us from our loved ones, death cannot separate our loved ones from God.

Does that always seem fair? No, probably not. We wish that our parent, spouse or child were still with us. The pain might still be fresh, but it is a comfort to know that even when death separates us this side of the grave it doesn’t have the power to separate us from God.

We are never alone.

Picture and Text Copyright Douglas P Brauner