ROBES TO RUIN (DANNY AND MATILDA) – 17 - WHY DO PEOPLE DIE? (04) - Putting the FUN back in FUN-eral: one of the family observed that an anagram of “funeral” is “real fun” – this appealed to Matilda (divertida e criativa) and elicited a cute smile – Hmmmmm... - But then the family consensus was that it was going to be a fun time: “Derek Dapland 1931-2011 – a Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving” was the title of the service booket - There were more than enough copies, and obviously no shortage of money - Hmmmmm... Matilda felt deeply embarrassed and ashamed of herself - Dorothy, unaware of what Matilda was really thinking: Yes, darling, I agree, and I know Derek would have agreed that it is, forgive me, somewhat vulgar, but we agreed to step aside and see what the grandchildren could come up with – something vibrant and LIFE-AFFIRMING – you must be the new librarian – Derek spoke highly of your new computer system - No, it was something acquired and installed by the Diocesan Board of Education, I simply… - Implemented it – that is the technical word, is it not… - Something like that… - Anyway, well done, you – as for the funeral, vulgar though it may prove to be, I am sure up there in heaven Derek will be looking down with a smile. The baton has been passed on, and I dare say one day, in the process of time, so to speak, YOUR generation will pass on the baton – that is how it was, is, and ever shall be: we come into this world, do our bit, and then (by the grace of God) pass into the hereafter, heaven as we call it in church… - Then someone spoke to Dorothy about some last minute details, and there she was, gone… - And Matilda looked dreamily out of the window: she was thinking of the meaning of life; she was thinking of the meaning of death. She knew – and believed – the Gospel. She and Danny had trusted in Jesus, and they were assured of a place in heaven – not by their own merit, but through their trust in Jesus. But – she was thinking about the idea of coming into this world and in due course taking up the baton from the previous generation, and then handing it on to the next before going to heaven – Hmmmmm... -
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 04:11:33 +0000