Earlier today, I had the occassion to attend two funerals. Family and friends of John Michael Lee gathered at a service of remembrance today at noon. Family and friends of Debra Hillick did the same at two. John Michael was 33. Debbie was 50. Both died unexpectedly and at a time that most of us would call "too soon."
Matthew 24:42-44 tells us that we do not know the "hour" when the Lord will come and so we must "be ready." Both John and Debbie were ready. I did not know either of them particularly well. My interactions with them were brief and yet, I will likely never forget either of them because of the mark they each made on me and those around them - simply by their being.
It is not uncommon to attend a funeral or a memorial service and hear nice things said about the deceased. Sometimes we hear nice things said and wonder if we are in fact at the correct service because the things that are said are not reflective of the person we remember. And sometimes, although we have our own image of who a person was, or what they meant to us - the picture becomes that much larger when they pass on because we are given a glimpse into what they meant to so many other people.
The latter was the case today. By all accounts, Debbie and John could not have been more different. And yet - today - as we stopped to honor them both, I could not help noticing a shining common thread. They both lived a life worth repeating. They both lived a life where loving God was first and where it gave them pleasure to serve. There were no unkind words or unhappy remembrances made for either. There were no befuddled faces when someone spoke of John's dedication to his church or of Debbie's dedication to her family. Everyone present knew and believed that these people were as great as they seemed. They left the same mark on each person they came in contact with.
It was evident by the tears wept - even by those of us who did not know them quite as well. Tears brought on by the void we know is created by their absence. And yet, Debbie's son reminded us that Debbie would say to fill that void with God.
We are called into this life to serve. We will be remembered by the things we leave behind. What are we leaving behind? Are we leaving a legacy of service? Are we kind to the people we meet? Will our life be worth weeping over even by those who only knew us briefly and not well at all?
What lessons are we called to learn in the passing of two people with servants' hearts that died "too soon?" Hopefully we are learning to serve. Hopefully we notice the hole they will leave and we rush to fill it.
No, we do not know the day nor the hour . . . so be ready. It's not too late to start right now. Seek forgiveness for past transgressions. Grant forgiveness to the people you need to release - including yourself. Find a place to serve - go there and serve. Stop saying what you will do - what you might do - what you're gonna do . . . and do it. Be ready. Listen with open ears and an open heart to the sounds of God around you . . . God's voice comes in many forms. We don't hear because we are not listening.
Today God's voice spoke in the lives of Debbie and John. Today, God's voice said loudly - to love me is to serve. I challenge you as I am challenging myself - listen.
