Church

The funeral was today. The interment outside.  In the winter.

Yesterday was above zero.  Nice weather.

This morning we awoke to howling winds.  As people arrived at the funeral the story of encroaching snow became apparent.  Those from North Battleford encountered snow around Wilkie.  As the funeral was about to begin, Beadle was encountering snow.  Beadle is about 5 kilometers from town.

We processed into the sanctuary.  No snow. 

The recessional brought us into the foyer.  Snow was swirling.  A blizzard brewing.

We processed to the cemetery.  There the snow abated.  The wind did not.  I stood facing the wind as the family stood with their backs to the wind. 

The interment ceremony was less than three minutes — I was speaking as quickly as possible.  The icicles of words reached to the mourners.  We honored our loved one, but did not linger in the cold.

My face, in just minutes, was stretched taut.  My balding head took the brunt of the weather.

On the other hand — although the remains were cold, Irene was in a much better place — with Jesus.  And I have this funny feeling the temperature there is just right!!

You begin to feel that a trinity of events is sufficient cause to wonder!

On Saturday we attended the funeral of one of my aunts — the first one of my father’s siblings to pass away.  Clara May always had a twinkle in her eye and provided fun with responsibility. 

On Sunday we learned that a cousin of mine, Harvey Somerville had died in a diving accident.  The funeral will be this Saturday morning in Eatonia.

Then tonight I found out that another friend of ours, Lillian Szmutko, had passed away today.  Almost thirty years ago we had been a part of a small group that met together.  An old church building provided the setting, and we even tried out a pump organ for singing.  Mike and Lil were very gracious people who lived generous lives with few resources!  What a gracious example of Christian charity and character.

So, we are now considering a four day event — our Pastor’s prayer retreat — that was to happen next week.  The event will happen, our question is whether we will be able to go.  God knows the plans that we lay — but our times are in His hands.

Busyness!  That’s been the order of the day, or should I say days.

As we descended on Delisle on Saturday we met . . . a charter member of our church (which celebrates 70 years in 2008) . . . cousins and nephews and neices (one of whom Jill had never met in over 30 years!) . . . my father’s siblings who combine brains, laughs and deep relationships.

Today we were at a church service with new and newer faces.  I preached on Acts 12 — God is in it all . . . including miracles and the ordinary.   After a soup lunch with friends we headed to Rosetown.  My parents are staying at my sisters.  We chatted about the past, ate another soup meal and headed back by 9:00 in the evening.

If time is relative to activity we squeezed a lot into a few hours.  God is good and has granted us this time with others.  Some we may see again, others not.  In God’s timing the moments are indelibly now a part of our history and our lives.

It’s around 8:00 and we are headed to Delisle.

Hairblowers have fashioned our hair, our shoes are polished and the shower has us perfumed for the day.  We’ll meet lots of relatives, enjoy the fellowship and celebrate a life well lived.

Jill, my wife, mentioned this morning that Clara May died well.  When she heard she had cancer she accepted this as God’s plan for the time.  She headed to Ontario to visit her siblings.  Others came to her and she greeted them with that well known twinkle in her eye.  Her passing was merely to another place with richer colors and greater singing.

I celebrate a life well lived and a death claimed in Jesus name!!