A Life Well Lived

It's a beautiful day out today. Of course, the sun is rising later in the morning and there is now frost on the ground. The one thing I don't like is our bedroom window now 'fogs up' in the morning. That is definitely not a good sign! It's not just that the windows are old but more that it is cooler overnight!

Harvest is slow this year but hopefully the next week or 10 days will allow some real work to be accomplished and the crops can be removed for another year. Farmers definitely have to rely on the weather and the hand of God. Not that HE looks down and says 'yes' to Joe Blow and 'no' to John Brown' but I know HE works his wonder around people and their personal situations somehow.

I was at the funeral of an older gentleman friend yesterday. Edwin was 76 when he passed away in his sleep. What a way to go. He had been fighting throat cancer and had gone through all the chemo and radiation. He was on a feeding tube and had lost lots of weight and all that white hair (and he had lots) but still remained positive and thankful for his life and felt he had been blessed. How do you maintain an attitute like that, if not for faith, a belief in something bigger than yourself. He had been in the hospital for the last few months and was able to obtain a pass for a few days to go home. He died the same night in his own bed, with his wife by his side. He was happy to be home in his favourite chair and enjoy his familiar surroundings and then 'gave himself up' to the Lord. Pretty amazing.

Our pastor's final words at the funeral were I think spontaneous and not scripted. I know he likely had something he was going to say but changed it. To begin the service, the brother of Edwin spoke first. His first words were in a manner and voice so familiar to Edwin's own... "It is absolutely true that Edwin came from a Christian family". This echoed in our pastor's heart and he began..."It is difficult to sum up a man's life in the display of photos that have been shown'. In a span of 75 years you get to see a 10-12 minute slideshow displaying a classroom picture of a young boy, family portraits with a young man standing tall & straight. Family pictures of Christmas, birthdays, boating or fishing. A special girl then the wedding photos; the first child, the first birthdays, the next child and so on. Fun and laughter. The different family cars, the new home, the first grandchild and so on. All summed up in a few photos.

As each of Edwin's siblings (three brothers) and then groupings of his grandchildren got up to sing a special song or read a special scripture verse or tell of a special time together with their grandfather...a story was shared of a man's life. I was immediately drawn back in time to my own father's funeral service whereby we placed his baseball cap with his name stitched on the front reading 'E.R. Field' on the memorial table. We all remembered that hat which brought an immediate image of dad to our minds. We are that imagine of something specific to our family - a hat, an action, or special saying, perhaps a special food, a dessert, maybe even 'red pepper relish'. We are and will be conjured up in our loved ones' mind by certain events, images or expressions. Out intent should be for it to be one of love.

Anyway, it made me nostalgic. The pastor was right when he said that you can't sum up a man's life in a 10 minute slide show. However, we can acknowledge that life is short. It is an instant in the span of eternity. We are like a vapor. James 4:14 "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Edwin's life was based on his faith and he chose a wife who had the same regard. Their life together displayed that faith and it enriched all those they came to know. Their family is richer 'beyond measure' through their faith in God.

At least five hundred or more people came to pay their respects. A life well lived..."I am so blessed" he had said. "Yes, Edwin....but you also blessed us."