I just got back from my great uncle’s funeral. I didn’t know him that well.. but going to someone’s funeral is a great way to get to know them.
It just so turns out that he was an amazing man of God who touched hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.. in his quiet, Christ-like, way. Wow. I would have never guessed.. and I think that is the point. I am always looking for the flashy, parting-of-the-seas sort of Christianity. He was an amazing example, but hardly anyone knew it until his funeral… everyone just saw a tiny bit of it here and there as he humbly served his community.
The pastor read a letter he had written and one thing really jumped out at me. My great uncle was struggling with cancer (which he recovered from and then later died of a heart attack) and he saw some Christmas special on TV.. it was talking about how with all the “Hell” in this world (death, disease, hatred, etc.).. it is our job to be “Heaven on Earth”. While this may elicit some groans.. I thought it was pretty beautiful in the context of life spent doing just that.
Unfortunately, the pastor then rambled on after that for an hour. What better sermon is there then hearing about Christ living through someone’s life? Why not just leave it at that?
Anyway. I look forward to getting to know him better in the hereafter.
November 13, 2008 at 12:47 am |
I have zillions of thoughts on this. But I’ll leave it at this. That bit of heaven on earth stuff… Sounds a lot like “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” I want to see a lot more of that. So amen and amen. I want that to be everything I am.