itsawonderfilledlife

There is something unexpected about a funeral in the summer. The weather is bright and warm. The sun is shining joyfully. Late nights, slow mornings, trips to places near and far, time spent with family and friends … the regular things of life and living get put on hold for the irregular.

Then a death comes out of nowhere in July. Even if the deceased had been sick, and expected to pass into eternity, death in summer is unexpected.

Every July, for as long as I can remember, I have had a funeral to attend. Often near the beginning of the month, when I am just beginning to settle into the slow pace of summer’s recreation.

This summer has been no different as we sat among mourners last weekend, to celebrate the life of a good man, who passed, unexpectedly, into eternity.

And so we were reminded of ‘usual’ funeral teachings and truths:

“you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

“Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

But, we were also told of the man’s joyful anticipation of meeting his Saviour, face to face. That, if he could not be with his family anymore, he would delight to be in the presence of Jesus.

This man was not in his nineties, or even eighties. He was a man in his early sixties, still working, travelling, sharing the love of God, living life … and then he was gone … like a mist.

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.
What is your life?
For you are a mist that appears for a little time
and then vanishes.”
James 4:14

Another funeral, on a hot, sunny, early July day.

Another annual reminder that life has no guarantees, that we need to make use of the time we have been given.

“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life.”
John 3:16