Well, it's been over a year since I posted my last blog. And, even though I enjoy blogging (rambling on as it were,) I felt like I needed a little more structure, maybe a clearly defined purpose for committing to a blog.
My ultimate goal is to lift up the gift of faith as received by Jesus, the Risen Lord and Savior, Who graciously and freely invites all to draw near and fellowship with Him. He came not to condemn, but to create relationships and connections and bring about newness of life.
It's all good. Truly. It is all good this life Jesus offers to one and all.
As I reflected about His love and life, I realized how many times I have seen His love and His life in other people - especially the residents and staff at the nursing home that I served for 19 years as chaplain.
Today, when I have an opportunity to encourage someone who is facing similar circumstances, such as caring for a loved one who is challenged with health issues or being given a diagnosis themselves of a disease or condition that is life changing, I feel that familiar tug of the Spirit that reminds me Jesus is present. Jesus is near. Jesus is an abiding God, not an abandoning god. He isn't a "fair weather" Friend. He is Emmanuel, God With Us. Jesus is literally Good News!
Now the question becomes how to share that Good News?
My thoughts are drawn to the many funeral messages I had shared with families over my years of active chaplaincy. At those times of being gathered to support and care for one another, I prayed to be able to deliver an uplifting message of comfort and hope even though we were saying goodbye to a loved one and in the throes of grief.
Writing a funeral message was something new for me when I began ministering at the nursing home. I began with great fear and trepidation. In the beginning my knees literally shook as I presided over funeral and memorial services. It took about 100 times before I truly began to embrace fully this calling. My knees were still shaky, but I began to develop a clear sense of end-of-life care and what is needed.
Simply put, what is needed at end of life is presence. Being present to the one completing his or her life. Being present to the family members. Being present to the staff who continue to give care. Being present to the community. Holding a hand. Saying a prayer. Sharing a humorous memory. Cooling a brow. Helping to adjust a position. Creating space for family and friends to say their goodbyes. Saying the name of the person journeying on. Remembering the life. Celebrating the gift that they were in life and celebrating the gift they continue to be as they live in the memories of loved ones.
In all of that - remembering, celebrating, being present, caring, hoping, crying, grieving - Jesus remains constant. Our abiding God does what He does best - He abides.
So my decision now is to blog the many funeral messages that I shared with families over the 19 years of my active ministry. I will be using first names only and editing the messages a bit so that I can stay true to the purpose of giving Glory to God for the life that was lived.
My prayer is that you will find a way to relate to this person and the life that was lived, and more importantly, that you will see Jesus and hear His open invitation to draw near and know personally the love He has for you and the life He has come to freely give you.
And, yup, it's good. It is all good.
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