The bagpipe played “Amazing Grace” and a family walked out of the church with the knowledge that their Son, husband, father, brother, friend, mentor had passed and the only thing visible to those of us gathered was the absolute suffering that was etched on their faces.
I for one am not a fan of Amazing Grace played on anything but a bagpipe. Something stirs the blood in such a case and there is nothing you can think about but the fragility of man and the eternal, patient grace of God.
We bid farewell to one good man today, but we got a glimpse at the redeeming power of faith in the eyes of those who wept, for their own losses to be sure, but in love for the family and friends of the departed, for the love of them who remain and must now try and make a life without . . . well, just without.
Why do we try and fill such times with happy thoughts? With too many words? Job’s friends had it just right when they showed up and simply sat with him, in company and sympathy. When they opened their mouths, nothing good came out. Sometimes all that is required of us is “Man, that sucks!” because that is the only truth sometimes, the pain here and now, blotting out even the promise for a moment, blotting out even the eternity the cusp of which we are riding every day.
The pain will ease. With or without us the pain will recede because life is a persistent force. Then the Word is a true comfort because we will no longer be screaming out our pain.
There is a time to just sit and cry. But that time will pass.
Probably not today.
