Once They Were Young
Good morning sisters and brothers.
" The night has passed and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you."
Romans 12: 9
Yesterday was brown bag lunch day. It was warm and sunny, with hardly a cloud in the sky. It was the perfect summer day.
I look forward to the spontaneous conversations that unfold during the hour that we make the brown bag lunches available. I always challenge this certain gentleman with trivia. His favourite is sports trivia. I can usually stump him. This is just not a silly game in which we engage. It is a human connection, and that is what our brown bag lunch program is all about. Yes, we provide a healthy meal, but more importantly we are here to listen to their stories. Yesterday I was unable to stump him with our trivia challenge. He knew the answer to my question immediately. What was the last time a team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the Stanley Cup? The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs. He walked away proud as punch, grinning from ear to ear. And the banter continued during the morning. We heard about noisy neighbours, the weather, etc.
As we were getting ready to close up, I noticed a gentleman walking toward us. He had been sitting on the bench by our fountain, looking at the stream of water.
We had two lunches left. He said that he was not hungry, but that he wanted to speak with me. He was tough looking and rather intimidating, but posed no clear and present danger. I was standing on the top step, and decided to come down to where he was standing so we could see eye to eye. He was visibly upset, and spoke in a very slow and deliberate manner. Every word was carefully measured.
I listened.
He said he was grieving his father.
He then said that he himself had died, and gone to heaven.
I continued to listen.
He said that in heaven he had met up with his father. And to his surprise his father was not old, but was a young man full of life and vibrancy. And this had brought him joy and comfort.
His story gripped my soul. It was not for me to ask about any details. I merely listened and met him where he stood, grieving the loss of his father.
His story reminded me of the movie Field of Dreams. Perhaps some of you have seen it. The film stars Kevin Costner as Ray, a newbie farmer who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield after a mysterious voice tells him to do so. The field magically attracts the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox team who was accused of rigging the World Series. It also attracts Ray's father who played minor league baseball and who had died not speaking to his son.
In the last scene, as the sun is setting, Ray spots a player whom he had not noticed picking up the bats and balls as the other ball players head off the field. Ray realizes that it is his father. His father as a young man, full of life , vigour and promise. Ray asks his father if he wants to play catch. And they do so.
I think back to the gentleman who shared his story with me yesterday. He saw his father in heaven as a young man, full of life, vigour and promise.
All of our loved ones who have passed were once young, full of life, vigour and promise.
There is something comforting about that thought.
There is a sense of liberation.
Our loved ones are not defined by how they left this earth but how they lived their lives while they were here with us.
May you have a peaceful and restful day.
And remember that everyone has a story to tell.
Let us pray.
Lord God, the well-spring of life, pour into our hearts the living
water of your grace. By your light we see light. Increase our faith, and grant that we may walk in the brightness of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen