Recently I began my day by attending the funeral of my former boss. He was a well-respected gentleman who was filled with goodness. He always found the bright side of life in whatever he was engaged. In our personal relationship I can hardly classify him as “boss”. For 16 years he treated me more like a partner than a subordinate.
I spent the evening of that same day at a quite different event. The gathering was a graduation from grammar school. My granddaughter’s class was celebrating their move from elementary to middle school.
This day was one of those occasions when you really see life’s connections. Each event, morning funeral and evening graduation, was faith-based. In each case, one of the readings was Ecclesiastes 3:6. One might wonder what could possibly be common to both morning and evening, youngster and oldster, dying and moving forward in life. Then one hears the familiar words from the Old Testament (later made into a popular song):
All things have their season, and in their time all things pass under heaven
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance . . .
At the morning event, a family member read the verses and they seemed most appropriate for the solemn occasion. As I listened to an 11-year-old share the same familiar text that evening, I realized how meaningful it was for me on that particular day. Sam, my old boss, had ended his season and the morning celebration was, for me, a time to mourn. My granddaughter, Sarah, was transitioning to a new season with new hopes and dreams and things to accomplish. Hers was a time for me to dance.
The goodness of the now departed 96-year-old has not left us. It was passed on to an 11-year-old whose life will be filled with opportunities for goodness.
Is she up for it?
You bet she is!
Flying with Rick... 