Rachel's Funeral

(This is presented essentially as given at the funeral with addenda below to expand what respect for time did not allow.)

This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise to seize the everlasting prize.
And shout while passing through the air, farewell to thee, sweet our of prayer.
This old hymn came true for Mom on Friday morning. We can all agree that the “robe” was getting pretty well worn out. It had some hard miles on it these last six years. She endured it for the most part with a smile.

It reminds me of the green room or waiting room for a show or some big event where people wait to be called for their turn to perform. When it is time, an attendant calls the name and they leave to do their part. Mom has been waiting for a while. We might be tempted to ask if it was an accident and if it was it worth it.

An accident? That hardly seems likely since this incident could have been fatal had it happened anywhere besides the hospital where it did. She was surrounded by skilled medical personnel with both the expertise and equipment to initiate immediate life saving measures. Otherwise, we would have met several years ago.

Second, she told us often that IF she had to go into a nursing home, she wanted to be at the AC home. When she was released from the hospital, the home had an opening and could take her. They have cared for and about her since. What a blessing. It seems almost to have been orchestrated.

And was it a waste of time and life? Consider this. When the nurse called to tell Bev that her Mom was declining, she said that Mom was going downhill. “We knew that things were not going well because she had lost her smile.”

Think of that for a minute. A semi, or total invalid who has been unable to talk for about six years is known as the smile lady. Despite being impaired and not able to communicate verbally she touched the lives of numerous people. She was a ray of light, and sometimes a sunburst.

Her condition, obviously, was not the source of her happiness. Something inside her shined out as joy. It was her relationship with Jesus. I can positively affirm that both she and Dad–Cliff were saved. I asked both of them soon after becoming a part of this family.

And on Friday morning, her name was called. Her time of waiting is over. She is with Dad and her mom and lots of friends and family. Most importantly, she is with her Lord.

This reminds me of a song that we had at Dad’s funeral. It goes like this:
Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven. Of touching a hand, and finding it God’s.           Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial. Of waking up in glory, and finding it home.

It will not do violence to the intent of the author if we interpret a little. These phrases could represent four different ways of leaving this life.

“Just think of stepping on shore....” We walk a lot and stepping over gutters or other objects is normal. One day we may step on a curb and instead of concrete it is a golden, heavenly street. This might depict a sudden catastrophic event like a fatal accident. One step we are on earth, and the next in heaven. Mom went for a medical procedure not knowing what to expect. She certainly did not anticipate a trip to the emergency room, hospital, and eventually the nursing home. She never did get back to her home.

“Of touching a hand....” We shake hands with people every day. One day, instead of a friend, family member, or associate, we will touch the hand of God. This could be a sudden, fatal medical event like a heart attack or stroke.

“Of breathing new air....” Hospitals used to have a very distinct smell. It rose from the carbolic acid used as an antiseptic. It has a biting, acrid odor. I wondered how anyone could get well breathing such noxious air.  As a disclaimer, modern hospitals and the home no longer use it and do not smell bad. But if they did, imagine someone struggling to breathe the oppressive air. They are in a hospital suffering from a lingering disease, like cancer. After a long struggle against the malady, the body finally gives out. Tortured, labored breathing, ceases, then....suddenly it is fresh, pure, celestial air.

“Of waking up in glory...and finding it home.” Home. Is there a more wonderful concept in the world, than home? There is no greater gift that a parent can give than a safe, nurturing home. And there is our eternal home with our Lord, Jesus.

This definitely happened to Mom. She went to sleep Thursday night. The staff told us that she slept that night. But she was still unresponsive on Friday morning and a few minutes after reporting that, the home called to say that she was gone.

To use our example, she got her call and when she woke up, she was home. She has been at the home for six years, but that was not HOME. Now she has rest. She has left her old worn out robe and is in a new white one.

And what about your appointment? Are you ready? And if Mom could say anything to us, it would be to make sure not to miss your call. Get ready.


Addendum: Mom’s ready smile was not because of her circumstances, obviously. But it was in spite of them. Her happiness was not affected by external events. It was driven from her inner peace. Peace which only Jesus can give.

Her demeanor was almost uniformly mentioned by visitors to her celebration of life. Less than a handful failed to marvel and even celebrate her constant smile. It was not a fake, pasted on smile. It was genuine and everyone could discern that. She was truly happy, or joyous, if you please. She had a reason to smile in regardless of her circumstances.

Does such “undeserved” suffering cast doubt on the existence of God? Or more, does it bring the goodness of God into question? Two points that deserve a look.

Does evil prove that God does not exist? In actuality, that is the wrong question. How can we define “evil” without a source of good? In short, we cannot. If there is no God, and we are merely the products of “survival of the fittest” then evil, in the form of violence and mayhem, would be the normal situation. It would not be good or bad, it would just be.

There would be nothing against which to measure the goodness or badness of what is. A Good God gives us a standard to determine the value and fairness of events and motivations.

Consequently, the existence of “bad” things highlights the “good” and we have confirmation that some ultimate good must exist. Evil proves that there is a God.

Which leads to the second question, is God good and or fair? At this point, a new consideration comes into play. Is “good” to be defined in reference to my personal peace and prosperity in a temporary context, or is good a confluence of eternal values for me and those with whom I interact? What might be “bad” for me now, might be beneficial to someone else both now and for eternity.

A simple example will explain this. My sister had cancer about a year and a half ago. She was subjected to “terrible–bad” treatments. The result was complete remission from the cancer. Had the “bad” not occurred, she would now be with our Mom and Dad, and of course, Jesus. The “bad” had an ultimate good. She was fortunate to be able to see the end while in the trouble. Not every “bad” thing is accompanied by evident value. We accept that by faith. But it is true.

This brings to mind the man blind, from birth. (John 9) When asked who was responsible for his “bad luck” of being blind, Jesus replied:“It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

This guy traded a lifetime of blindness for an eternity of “sight” with God. “Once I was blind, but now I can see.” That was not a bad trade. He traded a temporal, minimal value for an eternal, immeasurable one. It is trading pennies for gold coins. More like trading monopoly money for platinum bars.

Paul sums it up for us. Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Now back to our question. Instead of accusing God of being unfair, we would be better served to ask, “When will be see the real value of our experiences?” And even if the answer is in eternity, why fuss? Paul reminds us that long term gain is to be preferred to short term advantage.

So even if things seem unfair now, we would be better served to consider the long term balance sheet instead of demanding immediate gratification. Our measure is not the fairness of God, but our ability to see beyond temporary discomfort.

The ultimate question is not a test of God. It is a test for us. God is fair. Are we discerning enough to realize it?

Second thought: Home. Mom lived in three places in Eureka. She assiduously decorated those houses to her satisfaction. The final one, the condo, in fact received much more upgrading than she would ever realize from it, even when it was sold. She knew how much she would receive when she surrendered it, yet invested her own money to make it more her home. It is just sad that she had such a short time to enjoy it. But it was definitely her (earthly) home.

Third thought: Do not wait to accept the Lord. We do not know how much she was able to comprehend after the stroke. It seemed to diminish over time. If she had not taken care of that business before, would she have been able to later? We are not questioning or diminishing God’s power, but on the other hand, why risk it? What if the stroke had been fatal or completely debilitating? There would have been no “second chance.” Take advantage of the “chance” you have right now.