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I watched the slow cadence of the
funeral procession wend its way towards the final resting
place for the deceased, and I asked myself, ???Why do we
prolong the inevitable???? From dust we came and to dust we
shall return. In our mixed up symbolisms of respect and
from duty as a citizen, this final homage was proper because
of the dictates of rituals begun many generations ago.
Curious faces peered at a lifeless
body, showing a sign of concern for this soul whose worldly
problems are over. A few short months or perhaps a week
ago, most of them hardly knew he existed; but now the
greatest performance of remorse and sorrow portrays him as a
star. Perhaps the onlooker has taken cognizance of the fact
that he too will be a part of this ritual some day ??“ the
leading character.
One of our greatest shortcomings is the
fact that we dwell too much on the past, giving little heed
to the present and practically none to the future. I knew a
man who could quote batting averages for his favorite team,
knew all the great hitters, how many homeruns, strike outs
and all the other statistics of dozens of men, some long
gone, a remarkable feat, which requires lots of study and a
good memory. Yet this same fellow couldn??™t tell you what
size dress his wife wore. Another man knew the history of
the Civil War as if he had been a part of it from the
beginning to end but wasn??™t aware that his neighbor??™s son
was in Viet Nam.
Every generation has had great men in
all fields. Unfortunately, their capabilities and services
aren??™t duly rewarded until after they are gone. No
dedicated servant of mankind, who achieves success to any
degree, expects to be placed on a pedestal and worshiped
like an idol. Rather, he would have us reap the fruits of
his efforts to better ourselves and our children so that
they too can pass on to their children what we take for
granted.
No man is indispensable, no matter how
brilliant or how successful he may be. For the credit is
due not to the man, but rather to the Almighty Father, who
gave him the ability to attain this high degree of
learning. God did not put us here to stumble around like
blind mice.
All that we have at our disposal was at
one time just a dream. The earth provides us with the raw
materials to make our lives fruitful and prosperous. Every
day it gives up new secrets because a probing, curious mind
has sought them out. The same ingredients can be used to
better and improve our spiritual being but for some reason,
that becomes ignored and shoved to the background. The only
food needed for its growth is love and compassion, which we
should have plenty of and give freely. We do, but not for
God, not even our human counterparts. If it can??™t be
measured in dollars and cents and deposited in a savings
account, then the true value is misconstrued as meaningless
and worthless.
MY
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you for a body free from
pain and affliction; for eyes to behold the splendor of your
majestic creation; ears to hear the truth of your Holy Word;
lips to praise your Holy Name; tears that freely flow over
the joy of knowing you; arms to embrace my fellow man in
brotherly love; hands that touch with warm compassion; a
heart that beats contentedly since you became a part of my
life; legs that hold me erect in a wavering world of
turmoil; feet to walk on the paths of righteousness and best
of all, I thank you for being MY ever loving, forgiving
Heavenly Father. Amen.
~C. Jones
(Charles ???Chuck??? Jones) 1925-1984 |
