Today I conducted the funeral of a 77 year old Jamaican Canadian, a resident of Courtice, Ontario and now by God’s grace a resident of heaven.   It’s been awhile since I conducted a service of this sort since my main responsibilities focus on administration at Toronto Baptist Seminary.  As I reflected on this service I decided to blog some of the thoughts crossing my mind…..

I had never met this family before but in Christ there is no east or west.   It is amazing how quickly you can connect with other believers.   While their own pastor, from Unionville, was away, they had turned to other pastors in the area to serve.   Frankly it is easier to conduct the service for someone you know well but nevertheless when you share Christ in common God can provide sufficient grace.

How suddenly death comes for some.  I listened quietly as the grieving widow  spoke of her husband going to see the doctor for a check-up.   A pain in the leg – seemed nothing at the time and he was sent home with planned home care.    In hours he was back in the hospital and in a few more hours taken into eternity.    Doctors are not infallible and despite medical advancements cannot prolong life forever.

What a range of tributes are shared.   We laughed, cried and reminisced as a congregation as several brief tributes were delivered.   This man did not want “a big fuss” made but his life had left its mark.   Never a foul word had proceeded from his mouth.   Kindness marked his speech and conduct.    In fact the words of the old song “Others” came to my mind.   “Lord help me live from day to day in such a self-forgetful way, that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer will be for others.”  Others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be.   Help to live for others that I might live like Thee!

As I returned home following a time with the family I was reminded of the marvelous grace of God.   We sang of God’s grace, we spoke of God’s grace and I trust the funeral was a channel through which God ministered by His grace through what was sung, prayed and spoken.    The beautiful sounds of an unaccompanied Jamaican voice – that of the woman who sang a solo – still echo in my ears – “To God be the glory great things He hath done!”