stepping stones

Funerals are always sad. Sorrow. Loss. Grief.

But some are tinged with darker threads of hidden pain, and suffering, burdens, torments which are only full known to God himself. The sadness in such funerals is larger than it normally is.

Today's was one of them.

An early start, first thing in the morning for the crematorium staff. And as well that it was, in many ways, at least so far as I was concerned: for the early time ensured that I didn't have its shadow hanging over me throughout the day.

I'd known the lady well. And knew her back in earlier days when life was somewhat brighter than in latter days it'd been. Her last few years have not by any means been easy for her, not at all.

So her passing in the end was very much a mercy, I suppose. Her death, in truth, a stepping stone. From darkness into light.

The service was marked by a sense of God's presence and care. I was glad of that. And glad that God had very plainly given me the words to give some helpful focus to the very varied memories folk had.

For many there as well, I guess, the service was the moment when at last they could move on. A sort of stepping stone for them as well.

Funerals often have that sort of function in a person's life. And bringing to moments like that a sense of the presence of God is hugely important and what I'm attempting to do.

I was hardly in the door from that than I was off and out again. This time across to the school once more, for my 'touching-base' time with the staff at their mid-morning break.

As well that I did, since it gave me the chance to confer with the teacher who's running the SU group. And who told me it wouldn't be on today and would it be fine if we actually changed the day and made it a Monday instead.

I long since learned it's wise to be quite flexible in life!

It meant I had a bit more time to catch up on a couple of things round here that needed done. Letters, notes - that sort of thing.

Perhaps not that important in the grander scheme of things, but nonetheless it's little things like that, attending to the details and articulating thanks, it's little things like that which often prove to be the building blocks of God's transforming work in people's lives.

Further little stepping stones which open up the future in God's purposes for us.

My afternoon was taken up with meeting folk. Two very different people with two very different sets of pressing issues to be talked through and discussed.

And yet there was a certain common strand which ran through both. God's future. And the way we cross into that future. And, yes, it's very much 'we', since I'll be involved in them both.

Stepping stones again.

The way we move forward in terms of the purpose of God.

These are exciting days all right! The Lord is at work and he's doing something new and he's leading us on and transforming his church and .. well, I don't want to miss it at all!

So I'm always really expectant day by day. I hardly know just what he'll be at next! But I'm open to his leading and I'm trying to hear his voice. And I'm seeking to be figuring out just what he means to do.

I was out at night once more, calling on different folk. Folk with whom I've had a bit of contact in the recent past. On account of their bereavement and the service of thanksgiving that I led.

Which is back to the point where my day began. And the way that such bereavement, and the service of thanksgiving which ensues, can often be a God-appointed stepping stone which helps a person on towards a deeper, fuller knowledge of the Lord.

There's a lady like that (whose husband died a month or two ago) who's started in recent weeks to come along and help around the place. It gets her out and gives her something to do, for sure.

But it's also helped to draw her that bit closer to the Lord. It's been for her another major stepping stone.

And often when I call on folk and start to grow relationship with them, it's just these little stepping stones I'm laying in place. Opening up the way into God's future for their lives.

God's future for us all. It's really quite exciting!