I’m doing a memorial service today for a gal who attended our church for years... I don’t normally bring up these “cycle of life” events but this is a little different. We just finished our annual Vacation Bible School (really successful in real terms of salvation, inspiration and impression making) and Sunday is the final celebration of all that happened… and when we do a VBS we normally leave everything just the way it was during the week for the great finale! We want the parents, grandparents and friends to get a feel for all the wonderful chaos their kids experienced (This year we added four confetti/streamer cannon’s which, when we finally figured out how to use them, really added a long range touch to the fun!). So, here’s this memorial service right in the thick of it. And, at the family’s request, we left a lot of the main room just the way it was… to literally honor the life values of their loved one! At first, I was all, “let’s break it down and build it back up after the service.” Then I sort of mentally formulated my opening apology to the gathering group, explaining that not only did the family want the joyful atmosphere left alone, but that Vickie herself had asked for a “true celebration” because she was all worship and kids while she was here (We sort of compromised – the wall sized signs of memory verses came down and we picked up the streamers so no one would trip on their way in). It was while we were “touching up” that it sort of hit me just how appropriate it was that the confetti and the bright colors and all the childlike happiness was still present. If we really believe what we say we believe about dying and heaven and being “present with the Lord” and “many mansions” and “golden seas,” etc. then we should celebrate, with signs following, atmosphere fully engaged, a person’s homegoing… much like a bon voyage party! For out-of-this-world, dream-trips-of-a-lifetime, we celebrate the opportunity given to the traveler! We are truly happy, if not a bit jealous, for the destination and the anticipation of the exotic ports of call and the fact that though we aren’t going on this particular trip we will see the traveler soon enough to share the story and maybe get to go sometime too! Now, that’s not the end of the story for me, and maybe for you. I have always looked forward to the day when my tour of duty here will be fulfilled, when it will be my turn to leave the battlefield and “go home…” (and I want to finish my tour of duty strong, knowing I have “served my generation by the will of God” before I am released) but there, in the main auditorium with confetti all around, brightly colored runners hanging from the ceiling, great praise and worship music already chosen – an environment just like Vickie requested – the thought hit me that I should rethink my memorial day. I’ve always wanted one of those happy celebration kinds of days for my family and friends – but this was far better planned that I had ever thought thru… and I liked it! So, we’ve all heard of a twenty one gun salute for our departed soldiers… and right now I’m thinking about those cannons – twenty one of them would really leave an impression! My attitude has been given a little more altitude because of a wonderfully warm, worship and child focused gal named Vickie… and now maybe she’s helped you too!
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 11:17:49 +0000
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