Mother Martha's Monday Meditation |
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| January 29, 2007 | ||
And these three abide--faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love. Saying goodbye is one of the greatest tests of humanity. Saying goodbye tests all three qualities of 1 Corinthians--faith, hope, and love. When someone we love leaves our presence--whether it is through death, divorce, a job change, or a move--we are tested in many ways. When we say goodbye, our fears can easily take over. It is hard to have faith that our beloved with remember us. It is hard to hope that we will see that person again. Finally, the greatest fear is also our greatest faith and hope--that there will be love even past the miles, past the years, past changed circumstances, past this life into life everlasting. In the 1 Corinthians 13 passage, we often speak and think like a child when we say goodbye. In my home growing up, people just left. There was no goodbye party, no last words. When I was about five, my favorite dog, Vonnie, died. I didn't know that he was sick. One day, I came down for breakfast and he wasn't there. "Where's Vonnie?" I asked. My mother said, "Oh, he's just gone away." "Well, when will he be back?" I inquired. There was silence. Eventually, after many moments, my mother said, "He was sick and we took him to the vet. And the vet took care of him." Again, I asked, "So, when is he coming back?" Another round of silence. Then came the final reply. "Well, sweetie, the vet had to put him to sleep. He died." At those words, I remember running through the house to the safety of my room in tears. All I could think was---I didn't get a chance to say goodbye. Even as an adult, that is the unconscious fear that courses through my soul when an important goodbye is imminent. So, as an adult, I have made a conscious effort that when the time has come for me to say goodbye to someone I love and the fear rises and faith, hope, and love seem caught in the balance--I try mightily to make a concerted effort to say goodbye. And to say goodbye as well as I am possibly able. And that is what I love about Memorial Church. We say goodbye so very well. Our funerals shimmer with God's love and embrace. Yesterday, as we bid farewell to Stewart+ and Doug, we said goodbye so very well. And when we say goodbye well, we are able to move on in life with faith, hope, and love. And we know that we will see our beloved one day face to face--whether in this life or the Kingdom. Well done, Memorial Church! Thanks be to God! Text: 1 Corinthians 13 Pondering: How do you say goodbye to someone you love? How do you find faith, hope, and love in those moments? In Christ, |
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