Great Funeral!

‘Life wasn’t meant to be easy’, said Malcolm Fraser. I often think that those who present a glitzy Christian message filled with beautiful, successful people and lots of financial prosperity have missed the best that God has for us. This week I had one of those reminders of the nature of what joys that the Gospel can bring.

I led a funeral service. It was a great time. I hope mine is like that! There were lots of family and friends who had come to farewell a loved 85 year old lady whose body had finally given out. But as I presented to the assembled congregation a summary of her life you couldn’t miss the tough times that had been there: Growing up in the Mallee as a child of a WW1 soldier-settler, a husband who died 43 years ago (that’s half her life without him), constant battles with depression and mental illness, The Great Depression, WW2 and regular financial jeopardy, were just some things on the list!

But here we were at the end of this lady’s life and there was nothing but celebration in the church. Memories, love, stories, laughter, warmth and gratefulness for having known her were the feelings that day. As the Mastercard advertisement says: “PRICELESS!”

So if things are tough at the moment, don't discount God's presence in that. He might not have wanted it to be like is it but that doesn't mean that he isn't there in it. Look for the nature of the Gospel... find it... it's about.