“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV
During the past two weeks, I watched three Celebration of Life services from Nebraska on my PC. Being able to watch these services is a real blessing to me, since I’m unable to attend with Job and TAP on a 13-hour trip. The only way I plan to go back to Nebraska is in an ash container on a UPS truck heading to Greenwood Cemetery in Seward. Watching a service from a distance is not the same as being there. One of the churches in Western Nebraska happened to use Psalm 23 from the King James Version and that brought back memories.
Back in the day when I was in high school, I recall my mom, having a conversation with my grandma Heers about her having gone to three funerals in a week in Seward. The departed were people that she didn’t know all that well. Grandma Heers wanted to have a ‘last touch’ with the casket and share a few words of comfort with the family. Grandma Heers was the ‘Fifth Gospel’ to those families in her own way. I’m smiling now, having written that about her. I hope that this week you will be able to recall times when another dear soul has been a Fifth Gospel to you and your family. The attached photo is of a few people in Thomassique with a casket business. Going to a Celebration of Life service is a wonderful gathering for you to get that last touch and share a few words of comfort and Good News of our Risen Savior. Our Lord Jesus has prepared quite a few stops along your journey to share the news about the empty tomb. Keep searching. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Be still, my soul’ that were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1697.
“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake to guide the future, as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below. Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, and all is darkened in the vale of tears, then shalt thou better know His love, His heart; Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay from His own fullness all He takes away. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord when disappointment, grief and fear are gone; sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay