The Confession of St. Pat
I'm back from Virginia, where my mother was finally laid to rest next to my father, in view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where they lived after Dad retired from the Navy.
Morning view of the Blue Ridge in the mist, from the burial siteI think of the life they had together there, in the mountains -- their dreams, their plans for the future, so many years ago -- and wonder, is there any meaning to all this? What's the point of living, breathing, hoping, to have it all reduced to ashes and dust?
The logical part of my mind argues life is a purposeless endeavor, a joke on humankind, who presumes to more, but nothingness comes in the end. There's no grand purpose or design to our being. We just live our little bit and die, to sleep, to dream no more.
Nothingness. Love and dreams vanquished, life often ended in suffering.
Yet, I am convinced there is more. I have experienced the love of Christ, who came searching for me, and who has protected me. I believe what he said. I know my mother is precious to him, and she is healed and whole, and made beautiful.
It is in Christ, in God, we live and move and have our being, and he is eternal. I do not know his plans, but I know he will never desert us.
He is my savior, whom I shall see with my own eyes.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up;
and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him
who is my friend and not a stranger.
(from the liturgy for burial in the Book of Common Prayer)
8 comments:
This is a lovely post.
I think you should title it "The Confession of St. Pat."
It is a wonderful statement of faith.
Thanks for sharing.
{{{Pat}}}
Thank you, Padre Mickey. Title so changed.
It's a wonderful post. The picture shows a most beautiful, serene place, a place where "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help" seems so right and proper.
May your mother rest in peace and rise in glory. Peace be with you.
mumcat
thanks, mumcat. I hadn't thought of it that way, but the verse fits perfectly. "I will life up mine eyes unto the hills..."
Amen.
Life never seems so fleeting, so surreal as at the time of commitment.
Peace of Christ
Pat, what a lovely faith-filled post, and what a beautiful place of rest for your parents.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Num. 6:24-26
Amen to what Mimi said! And thanks for your prayers. I finally cried tonight over godson Bill's death, and I was lovingly held by my friends. A burial place is sacred ground for what once lived will live again and continues to live in our hearts. I will be placing some of Bill's ashes in sacred ground in the Rockies...at the request of his wife. So, I think a good "resting" place is just that - a place for the ashes to ashes, the dust to dust to rest until each person's wholeness is united with God. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Thanks for sharing, Pat.
Dear Pat -- that is beautiful and literally inspiring. I needed it. Thank you.
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