Memorial Service for a sister in Jesus

I am sure everyone here remembers the days when we used paper maps and tour books to get around. They were not always user-friendly, and we would often take the wrong exits especially when encountering perplexing spaghetti junctions in large foreign cities. Then some genius invented an electronic navigation system and travel became a lot more hassle-free, but still not without the odd quirky routing glitch here and there. 

Now, in many ways, life can be compared to travelling. Sometimes, the navigation system is easy to follow…and then there are times when the GPS loses a satellite signal, or the system has not been updated for a while and then things can get rather interesting. XXXX began her journey on the 14th of January 1955 in Southern Africa. Her life’s journey took her to Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK, and the Netherlands. I am sure that there were a few miscalculations and several interesting moments along the way, some scary, some painful, some beautiful. But twenty-three years ago, her path crossed with YYYY’s and a new adventure began.

Photographs and documents will continue to testify to the many journeys of the past, and they will bring with them tears, laughter, and good memories. But the most important journey XXXX made was the one that took her into the very heart of Jesus. 

Navigating life is never easy, but when one walks with the Lord, his presence provides meaning and strength and courage and purpose. When our navigation system takes us down the wrong road, an exit too early or an exit too late or an exit missed entirely, his company helps us deal with anxiety and fear and ultimately, he leads us back to the path we ought to be travelling. 

XXXX’s journey finally brought her to the place we all must go eventually, but when we prayed together two weeks ago, she acknowledged that she knew he was with her, even as she walked through this final valley of death. That valley can be scary as it may feel like our navigation system has led us down an unknown road we would prefer to have avoided. We yearn to have it recalculate and lead us to an alternate route. But our Lord knows that this life is temporary…he has gone before us to prepare for us a place in his Father’s house where there is no longer any darkness, sorrow, pain, tears, or fear…only peace and joy and light.

But our journeys don’t happen in a vacuum…they are always intertwined with the journeys of others. And so, while XXXX’s earthly journey has come to an end, our respective journeys continue. While she lives on in endless bliss, we must continue to find our way in the labyrinth of life until we are led to the same destination she was Thursday before last. And then, our journeys will once more intersect. But until that time, it is for us to travel on with the Lord as our companion and our guide, as he continues to lead us into an ever-deepening relationship with him and with each other, so that our journeying may prove to be a blessing to those with whom we connect. 

With that thought in mind, I’d like to end with a poem written by Linda Ellis. It is called simply, The Dash.

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

 

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

 

For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

 

For it matters not, how much we own -- the cars...the house...the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

 

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

 

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,

and always try to understand the way other people feel.

 

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more,

and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

 

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,

remembering this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash,

would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent YOUR dash?

Let us pray.