Death brings a reality close...
Death makes you realize... well... you.
You will die, it is going to happen, and you are faced with the fact that you will not be here forever.
My grandfather was a great man. His service to Christ and to people was something that I did not know a ton about before now. (I was adopted at birth, this was the grandfather on my biological mom's side). Some would day that he died young (60's), and others would say that he lived a full life; but I was amazed by the legacy that he was leaving.
His memorial service was amazing. It was a celebration, full of music, laughter, stories, worship, tears, memories, and truth.
He was a man, by just going to his funeral, you wanted to meet, know, and experience. I found myself smiling and laughing at the stories, the memories, and being in awe of the person that my grandfather was. It was amazing.
I have been to funerals before.
I have experienced death before, but not like this.
It was a life celebrated. Joy, Comfort, Peace are all things that could be used to describe the mood, the day, the feel.
He lived his life for Christ, and it was so apparent.
Across the barriers of time, of culture, of skin color, states and countries, age differences, and different beliefs; it was all for Christ.
It was amazing...
people gathered to remember, mourn, cry and embrace, but at the end of the day, after all of the planning and talking, walking, tears, hugs, and prayers had happened. The whole experience left me doing one thing.
Looking up.
So many funerals, memorials, deaths, leave us looking down, remembering, heads held low, watching the loved one go into the ground.
But I, (and I would like to think, others) was left looking up. Thinking about the place, the person, the experience that my grandfather was having.
The God he was meeting.
The perfection he was witnessing.
The embrace that he was feeling.
The God that was loving.
Because even in death, he pointed up. He pointed people to Christ.
Legacy...
what do you want to leave behind?
People missing you, good and bad memories, money for you family, a "complete" life, people looking down?
I hope
I pray
I want
I desire
that when I am gone people will look up, to Him...
That is a legacy worth leaving...
