Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCV

Brother Slocum died. He was just sitting at the table and fell over dead. Naturally, the pastor was one of the first people called. When he came over to the Slocum residence that night, he asked for some time with the grieving widow, and so they sat at the table for their little talk...the same table where Brother Slocum was sitting when he met his demise. At first he offered his condolences, and then he got to the point, "Sister Slocum, as you know, I did not know Brother Slocum very well, and I was wondering if you could tell me a few things about him that I could use in his homegoing service." She was quick with her reply, "He was mean and surly." The Reverend squirmed just a little, "Uh, Sister Slocum, the words 'mean and surly' are not words we like to use in a funeral service." She insisted that those terms were what best described him.

That little story is a scene from a movie....I just can't remember the name of it. When I watched that scene, I was laughing out loud, but I think that one of the things that makes comedy so funny is that we can relate to so much of it. I feel certain that the ministers who are reading this blog can identify with the feeling that the pastor was having to deal with at that moment. Have you ever attended a funeral and you knew the preacher was struggling to find the right words to say? Although the movie I just described was hilarious, when it comes to reality, it is far from funny. In fact, it's a scene you'd prefer to avoid.

Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I've been thinking about what will be said at my funeral. First of all, I don't think my family will have any trouble finding a preacher who knows me well. But what will he say? Will he have to struggle to find words to make me look good? Will he be able to speak about any accomplishments I have made? Did I live my life with a purpose or did I just float along? Will anyone be able to say that their life was made better because of me? Have I said anything of enough significance that it will be remembered? And most importantly, did I make proper preparations for eternity? If any of those situations need fixing, it's time for me to get to work on it now.

However, what really matters is not what I do or what I say, but the important thing is what I am. Am I willing to do the right thing regardless of what it might cost me? What kind of person am I when I'm all alone? Do I appear to be one type of person one day and someone totally different the next? In reality, I shouldn't even concern myself with what the preacher says at my funeral...I just need to make sure I'm the person I need to be, and the funeral will take care of itself. So if the preacher who speaks at my funeral happens to be reading this, let me just tell you that although I'm no longer worrying about how easy your job might be, I am working on being the best person I know how, and as a consequence, hopefully your job won't be that difficult.

Preston