Funerals

Services

I am writing this blog on Wednesday evening, March 20, 2024. Today, I attended two funerals. As a pastor, I assume that I probably attend more funerals than the average person. But, of course, not as many as the folks who work for the funeral homes. But two funerals in one day is unusual for most of us. These experiences are made more difficult because none of us attend them passively or casually. We attend these services usually because of what this person who has passed away meant to us or because we care deeply for someone who was close to this person. Regardless of the precise reason, we are engaging in grieving to some degree.

Memories

The first service I attended today was for Randall Gardner. Randall was my father’s first cousin’s husband. But they were married when I was still an infant so I have never known our extended family in any form that did not include Randall. Today at the service and during the conversations afterward many stories were told relating his wit, his diligence, and his dedication. All true and admirable qualities. I always thought of Randall as the kind of person you can really count on.

I remember a time when he really came through for me. Laura and I had been married less than 3 months, and I was in college at the time. That summer, I had started a young filly, but of course I hadn’t ridden her since Labor Day because of school. It was early October and I was going to ride her up the river road. As I rode along I saw Randall at the back of the field cutting wood and I went to speak with him. As I came back from our conversation, just before getting back to the road, the filly threw me and injured my shoulder. I tried to get back on (you know how cowboys are supposed to), but because of my injury I couldn’t. I walked back across the field, and Randall hauled me out so that I could get to the hospital. I remember how encouraging and reassuring Randall was as he came to my rescue.

The second service I attended today was for Clarence Phillips. Clarence has been the music leader at Immanuel Baptist Church in Clinton, Arkansas for many years. Clarence was a ball of energy. He was not a very large man, trim and not tall. But from the first handshake, to him belting out those wonderful hymns, he always gave one hundred percent effort and enthusiasm. Clarence had an evident love for the Lord and for praising the Lord through gospel music. Clarence was also a man that could be counted on.

Both of these men had impacted many lives and it will take many people to fill their shoes. But even more important than the things they did, these men are going to be missed for the people they were and that is irreplaceable. 

Hope

Many things are being accomplished through the process of having funeral services. One thing is the opportunity for people to show their love, support, and respect for the deceased and the family. Another purpose is to give a point of closure. Though it is certainly not the end of the grieving, it marks the move into the new era of life without this person. But still another purpose is to encourage us all to grieve with hope.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul encourages the Christians that they are not to grieve like the unbelievers but rather with great hope because of their faith in the powerful salvation provided to all believers by our Lord Jesus Christ. We grieve differently because of our hope of resurrection and eternal life. Paul also tells the Corinthian Christians that because of the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection promise for believers, death has lost its sting and power having been overtaken by the victory of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)!

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