Births are part of life. This week Jan and I are anticipating the birth of another granddaughter. Funerals are equally part of life. Many in our society seek insulation and isolation from death. I am amazed at how many young people have never attended a funeral. I am on the “call list” for a local funeral home–a minister on call when a family does not have a minister. I am amazed at how many families are unconnected spiritually (unchurched).
The first place I preached full-time, I did 27 funerals in 27 months. Yesterday found another funeral on my calendar. Funerals are interesting. Ministers do not preach funerals. Every person preaches their own funeral. Ministers only give structure to the memories. This was a “good” funeral. Carl Capers preached his own funeral. His love for people, his love for his family, and his love for the church were obvious. He was a servant. He was dependable. He was generous. He was special.
In the last days of his life as his health waned, I saw parts of Carl I had not seen before. He had a sense of humor. He said to Edna, “You’re probably the best wife I’ve ever had.” Carl was a philosopher. As this brother who had been active all of his life became bedridden, he sagely observed: “A man is real fortunate if he gets to live until he dies.”
Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that I am preaching my own funeral. Thank you that I knew Carl. Thank you for his example of faithful service. A man is real fortunate if he gets to live until he dies. So he is–and Carl did.
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