cairns

It was beautiful to see all of the loved ones who came, some from far away; the excellent weather on top of the little hill at Garrison Chapel Cemetery; and to share in the hope and challenge of a life lived in service to God.

I thought I would include a link to my marked copy of what we shared for some who could not be there.

Moms funeral

Thanks to everyone who attended, who prayed, and who loved our parents.

peace

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OK, I have a combination of pain and exhaustion plus no idea what we are supposed to do for Mom already playing in my head when R posts about whether today is the beginning of the rest of his life.

How weird is it to think that maybe death is the rest at the beginning of our life?

peace

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They both left the hospital today; my friend Roger to come home for more tests and to spend more time with us, my little friend Eric to finally walk, run, laugh, talk, hug, and sing praise.  I believe it.  I know it.  I cherish the hope that he now can experience all that has shown these ten years through only his face on an immobile body.  But, all I feel is the leaving.  I hear my wife crying and know I am too.

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done ON EARTH as it is in Heaven.”  We aren’t big enough to heal each other, save each other, restore each other.  We need the Kingdom here.  We need the King here.  We need the King with healing in His hands.

peace

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I haven’t written about the natural magic of fall on here for a while.  Figure my volcano piece has already been done.

But, this fall we did it again.  We looked around and said, “There just hasn’t been enough rain, it will be a brown fall without much color.”  Then Fall came anyway.  The yellows and oranges are brilliant with some hardy reds.  To be sure there is plenty of brown in some areas.  But, it makes the tree which has burst into full color stand out all the more.  And, my own neighborhood has been absolutely blazing with glory.

Now the leaves are coming down.  My yard is a “mess” thanks to the rains coming right after the leaf fall.  But, I love it all.  The street is full of leaves and I love driving through them in my little car as much I as I used to love blasting through them on my bike.  It is a pre-snow transformation from solid concrete and hard edges to natural blurs and complexities that dance and whirl.

And in the woods last weekend alone, the pure pleasure of the soft crunch beneath my feet was exhilarating.  Life that had soared into the air through tiny veins of wood, was returning to the soil enriched by sun, air, and water.  I marvel at the loudness of a single leaf somersaulting down through the trees when there is no machine noise pollution to mask its passing.  Every part of life’s cycle has a beauty and fall is still a favorite of mine.  I rank it right up there with Spring, Summer, and Winter!

11/20  This week the reds came on strong.  The trees that fill the middle of the boulevard coming into my neighborhood lit up like British soldiers on parade.  Then today, snow flakes, lots of snow flurries whirling everywhere melting almost before touching the ground, added to the picture.  I saw serious faced “how am I ever going to reach these kids” teachers turn giddy with the pure delight of the spectacle.  I do love life in four seasons.

peace

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Just read a post on a friend’s blog quoting Bonhoeffer about Christ’s call being one to “‘come and die.’ and some people sooner than others.”  And I am thinking about my own recent posts and many things I have written before of a similar nature.  And I think something new (or old and too easily forgotten) is creeping into my consciousness.  All humans are on the path to death, some sooner than others.  In terms of being on the path to physical death, it makes no difference if we follow Christ, Muhammad, or the Rolling Stones.  We die.  We cannot predict when, where, or why.  Mortal flesh breathes for awhile and then returns to dust as the author of Ecclesiastes clearly cries.

So what is our meaning when we dwell on Jesus call, to pick up our cross?  I think death is not the point.  We can do that without Him, thank-you.  I think the call to pick up His cross is to carry our humanity with meaning and purpose — eternal meaning and purpose, and just maybe with less belly aching about it as if we are somehow unique.  On the cross did Christ declare the victory of death, of suffering, or of life?

What if Christ’s call to carry our cross is to declare the victory of life in our being, working, sharing, living, breathing, and yes even in our dying?  Is that not the evangel?

Wouldn’t this change our “Biblical” perspective on care for not just our fellow man, but literally the earth and all other life?  As long as we are hung up on death, what cause is there for sympathy to the death of other life?  But, if carrying the cross of Christ is carrying the ultimate victory of life, then how far do we carry it?   How broad is our understanding of the meaning of that cross as the redeeming victory of life for all the earth?  What does it mean if we believe the King who loves every sparrow has arrived and declared that His kingdom is upon us?

I like the cross I wear with the star of David around it for several reasons that I often have to explain to people.  But, one I seldom take time to talk about is simply that the instrument of death is surrounded by a shining star!  I dare not walk into my classroom carrying death to tomorrow’s children.  No, I will go with a shining affirmation of the great meaning of life (which contains suffering,  sacrifice,  and death).

And when it is our turn to die?  I still believe, we win!

peace

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An older cousin passed this week.  He was somewhat of a family outcast/escapee and I have little memory of him even though I know the rest of his family well.  His younger brother and I have maintained close contact over the years.  Now we are exchanging emails about this brother’s passing and trying to comfort ourselves with thoughts of him reunited with loved ones who went on before — my dad, his mother and sister…

And it put me back to thinking about how over time more and more of the people we most want to be with move to the other side.  Just these three — Bob, Becky, and Janice — would be worth the trip!  However perfect heaven was before their arrival, it has to be a livelier happier place with them there.  They were those kinds of people.  And then my list began to overwhelm me — relatives, teachers, students, friends, pastors, sinners and saints…

Enjoy Mickey!  When my time comes, I will not shrink back from the invitation to the party!

peace

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I didn’t know her, but many there did.  And it has taken me a week to decide how to post this.  Imagine being at a conference of people dedicated and professionally engaged in caring for others in crisis situations, and one of their own passes away.  It happened at MHM.

Larry and Lois Dodds of Heartstream Resources were at the conference along with their friend (their word, daughter) and Larry’s caregiver, Mary.  Larry has ALS and is wheelchair bound.  Mary is their constant companion and work partner.

Then as we sat at dinner we saw two ambulances pull up to the front door.  At the evening session we learned that it was Mary and that she had fallen gravely ill.  By morning we learned that she had passed.  Many there were clearly shaken by the passing of a friend.  Larry came back from the hospital to personally eulogize his friend for the group.  Apparently she was a first name person, because I never even heard her last name.

What intrigued me most was the response of the group.  No big theories or theologies.  No postulating significance of suffering or realities of redemption.  They quietly comforted each other and cried.  One veteran there told me it was really very simple in his mind.  The Bible says that confronted with the death of a friend and the sorrow of other friends, “Jesus wept.”  They quietly chose to follow His example.

If I am ever in trouble out there in the world somewhere, I would be very happy indeed to see any one of these folks come walking to my door.

peace 

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