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Easter Musings About A Wedding & A Funeral

Two Saturdays ago, we attended a wedding. I was moved by the thought and care that went into the ceremony. The couple did not have a lot of money, so things were lovely, but simple. Not only had the bride prepared and planned for the day, but the groom was an active participant in the design and setting. Before the altar was an ample white square of cloth with some white tulle about the edges. It was explained that the groom considered this to be holy ground upon which only he, his bride and the pastor would stand to take their vows and make their promises before a holy God.

The bride came down the aisle and as her father gave her away to her beaming groom, it became evident that both the pastor and the groom were barefoot. The groom greeted his bride and then led her to a nearby stool where he seated her. He then kneeled and removed her slippers. He brought out a basin with water and proceeded to gently and lovingly wash her feet and dry them with a fluffy white towel. He said he wanted to start his marriage demonstrating to his bride and all present that he was committed to being a servant leader for her. He helped her to her (bare) feet and they then joined the pastor on thier holy ground to begin the ceremony. With such a tender and thoughful beginning their marriage and their love should only deepen and grow stronger as the years go by.

This Saturday we were back in the same church for a very different ceremony. The 93 year old mother of a friend had a tragic accident in her home and ran burning out into the yard where she was met by her daughter and grandsons who rolled her on the ground and carried her to the car to rush her to the hospital. She died from her burns 18 hours later and on this Saturday we attended her funeral.

Naturally, many questions arose about why such a dear and loving woman, so faithful to the Lord and her family, actively serving in the church well into her 80"s should have to die in such an agonizing and horrific way. Then the story began to unfold. On the way to the hospital this woman exhibited no panic, no terror, and asked her daughter why are we going to the hospital? What happened? My husband had been called to meet the family at the hospital and he spoke with the mother there and again she exhibited no pain. She was given pain medication while the doctors assessed her condition. Trust me, it was bad. Her lungs had been seared and her burns were severe. She had little chance of survival and it was decided to let things take their natural course and throughout that process she was kept pain free.

In the midst of the fire, there was mercy. In the midst of searing heat, there was grace. Even in the flames there was a Savior. The funeral was a testimony of how her love had impacted generations of her family. Not one doubted that she was "home free."

A wedding and a funeral, life and death, suffering and redemption. In both ceremonies there was a thread of eternal hope and a promise of glory. He is risen! He is risen indeed!