The reality of funerals

I dislike funerals, and yet I've not come away from a single one without learning something. Funerals offers such a stark and naked picture of life.

Tonight I went to the "viewing" of an elder in my old church, who also happened to be the dad of a friend I escaped with 16 years ago. Forget the quiet, solemn, often motionless viewing that usually happens in the US. Viewing for a believer in Romania is wailing, and is preaching out loud, and is praying, and is singing slow songs, and is testimony-sharing, and... did I say wailing?! And all this does not happen in the neat viewing hall of a funeral home, but in the home of the deceased. It is customary to bring the body of the deceased in the house, where it will be kept for up to three days, with people watching over it throughout day and night until burrial. The house is then open for everybody else to come visit with the relatives, and perhaps even stay the night.

The burrial of a believer is a beautiful thing because of the eternal hope we have. The hope and knowledge of being in God's presence. This brother in Christ was an evangelist at heart and singlehandedly started several churches in villages surrounding Bucharest. Tonight, an entire church was here giving testimony to his life. Member after member stood up and shared how this man was instrumental in introducing them to the salvation knowledge of Christ. What a superb testimony of a life lived for God! No one stood up to say that he was a great tile setter, which he was, or that he was a dedicated employee, which he was, but they stood up to say how he's touched their lives, one by one. - Lord, may our lives be well lived for you also! -

So, yes, I dislike funerals because they totally remind us how vulnerable we are. But then, feeling vulnerable is so nearing us to God....

- C