Today's reflection is brought to you by
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Grief is part of our existence. None of us manage to get through life without losing people we love. This year at Sanctuary of Peace I’m remembering Chief, who died just over a year ago, Annie, a Dene elder we often saw at Table Time, Stephen and his beautiful long black hair that often needed a comb Ricky, who traveled the hood with his lifelong disability, Chad, who often sat back there near the door, and a toddler named Daryin, whose parents asked us to lead his funeral service in September.
I’m also
thinking of my dad, who died in June. He was tall, gave great big bear hugs,
and had a gorgeous singing voice. I learned how to sing harmony by listening to
him, so I like to imagine him harmonizing with me when I sing here.
Dad loved to
watch the Oilers. But he was NOT an Evan Bouchard fan. As a defenseman who
frequently gave the puck away in front of the Oilers’ net, Bouchard frustrated my
dad almost every game. In the last few years my sisters and I would tease Dad that
we should buy him a BOUCHARD jersey for Christmas, and he would growl that he’d
just burn it.
I’m sure you
all have special stories about loved ones who have died too. Stories that make
you smile, that keep them real to you. They’re important. We keep stories to
remember them by because all our deceased loved ones are now in the
spirit-world, or heaven, if you prefer to call it that. Paul’s letter says that
they have gone on ahead of us to join other ancestors in a most loving place, a
place that we can’t even begin to imagine.
It’s
necessary to be sad, to miss them. Our human eyes can’t see the spirit-world
that exists right beside this one, so of course we grieve. Tears help to wash
away the hurt. But as Paul’s letter said, we are not to “grieve like those who
have no hope” – because Jesus died and lived again, as our loved ones live now,
praying for us. Little Daryin’s grandfather said something that really touched
me at his grandson’s funeral. He said, “I’m sad that he’s gone, but I will see
him again in the next world. So this goodbye is only temporary. See you soon,
little buddy.”
In the case
of losing my dad, I feel the thinness of the space between this world and the
next whenever I hear about how Evan Bouchard is doing in this hockey season. It
feels like my dad has completely changed sides regarding Bouchard, who got a
hat trick and 2 assists in his very first game in September. My sisters figure
that Dad is now on Bouchard’s side now, giving him a little super power from
the other side. That thought makes me laugh – at the moment, Bouchard is third
in NHL scoring, with 10 goals, 21 assists and 31 points!
November being the month when nature goes to sleep, we are in a natural time to think about those we love, and to look for signs of their continued presence in our lives. So today, as we remember All Saints and All Souls here at Sanctuary of Peace, I invite you to think of someone you love who has gone ahead of us.
Settle as
comfortably as you can in your chair, breathing slowly in and out…
Close your
eyes, or lower them, straighten your spine and set your feet on the floor.
Release any
tension in your shoulders, arms, hands. Breathe gently and naturally.
Imagine
someone you love who has walked on ahead of you into the spirit-world.
Imagine
Creator, with a cry of great joy, welcoming your loved one, raising them to
shining greatness like we heard in today’s psalm… embracing them and
celebrating them.
Imagine that
person seated beside Creator and smiling down at you with love.
Let good memories
of them peacefully surround you and fill you with gentle sadness mingled with
joy for their new life in God.
In your
heart, speak to your loved one about your feelings for them.
Now that
they are in Creator’s loving presence, what gentle things do they say to you?
Invite them
to pray for you, as they are now your personal small-S saint. Tell them your
cares and know that they and God are listening.
Imagine what
it will be like to be caught up into the clouds with Creator and your loved
one, celebrating together forever, never separated again, no more tears and
sadness. A joyous reunion.
...
And let’s
pray together…
God of life,
We know the pain of grief and loss
as we remember our loved ones who have died.
Help us to believe that they are forever in your presence,
held by hands much gentler than our own.
Help us to know that you hold us, too, and grieve with us as
we miss them.
Fill us with the hope of seeing them again
when you raise us to new life after our lives end.
Thank you for loving us
and promising us life forever through Jesus,
who died and rose again in shining-greatness.
With our loved ones, let us sing for joy in the shadow of your wings,
forever and ever.
+Amen
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