This week we laid to rest one of our own - a true brother in Christ to us all. I know for me, it has been a week of quiet reflection and a time to ponder some of the mysteries of life. To all of us, Alvin McNair left this earth way before his time, and much too soon for his family and friends. It's hard to make sense of it. If we had asked Alvin, he would probably have said that it wasn't his time - that he had so much more to do here on earth. I would say the same! Yet God saw that Alvin's work was done, and God brought him home in His time, not ours.
As I watched the family say a final goodbye this afternoon before they closed the lid of the coffin, I was struck by the finality of it all. I felt their pain as they all clung to the last vestige of human contact with the him. I knew that they knew where Alvin really was - with his heavenly father - but it didn't make the parting any easier.
Somehow, in some way, this is God's plan. God has never promised us a life without pain. God has never told us that we're going to be able to avoid heartbreak. As Lorrie and I drove home from the memorial service she commented to me on that fact that no one escapes from this kind of sorrow. We all have to remember that pain and sorrow are an important part of the passage from the this world to the next. Why would we look forward to heaven if life on earth was perfect? How would we long for glory if earth was so glorious?
God makes no mistakes! What we experience here on earth is our training ground for glory. As worship leaders we have the tremendous privilege of helping those left behind come to terms with the blessings that God has in store for those who grieve. It is a somber but rich element of our worship ministry that we can help with that process.
As we prepare for the Easter season, let's really keep in mind that the victory of the cross turns our sorrow to joy, our tears to smiles, our despair to hope. Let's do a great job this Easter in focusing on the victory, in leading people to the one who will wipe every tear from our eyes, who has forgiven all our transgressions!
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2 comments:
You guys did an awesome job with worship today. The songs helped us along in praising God even in our grief.
Hey Ray,
Thanks for these great words of healing during this time of grieving. Even though we all know that death will come one day to us all, the reality of it is always hard to deal with. Alvin's death came surreal to me because for most of my life I haven't had to deal with a death so close to me. His death actually made me evalute my life as a christian servant, making sure that I am doing God will to my fullest. Alvin was the first person I interacted with when I arrived at Central. As a matter of fact it was Alvin that introduced me to you when I expressed interest in being part of the sound crew. He was a great friend and golfing partner to be around with. Now that he is gone, it feels wierd. Tomorrow isn't promised to us, so we have to make sure we are ready today if the Lord taps us on our shoulder for our time to be with Him.
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