December 19, 20th Day of Advent Isaiah 61:3 “He will give a crown of beauty for ashes.” Not many know that I worked my way through college at a funeral home in Kansas City, Kansas. My job included lawn care, leaf and snow removal, distribution of flowers, washing and polishing cars, and chasing down signatures on death certificates. My employer was wonderful and supported my class schedule and homework issues. I attended about 300 funerals each year, waiting for the service to end so that I could load flowers for the cemetery. It wasn’t a particularly happy job, but I learned about compassion and care of others at times of loss. Family members most often wore the customary color of mourning – black. Our fleet was all black. The only bright spots were those beautiful vases and sprays of flowers given in remembrance. I loaded the “flower car” and rushed to the cemetery ahead of the procession, then took vases and plants to hospitals and senior housing. When I think about it, this scripture passage seems to fit. Christ will replace our sackcloth and ashes sprinkled on our heads in mourning with a stunning crown to accompany the robe of righteousness and the graces of his Spirit. In the midst of our sorrow, Jesus is there to bring us grace, not fictitious, but real, lasting and durable, grace not acquired, but given. I picture my crown as one of tulips, callas and chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. El Shaddai, your grace exceeds all that I can understand. May I be worthy. Amen Harold Frye Advent 2014
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 13:43:32 +0000