Thursday, August 07, 2008

weeping and rejoicing

On Sunday a dear woman, Gladys, age 78 and mother of three, had a massive stroke at home. She was worshipping with us at Zion only an hour or two before.
The family spent a couple of days with her in the hospital, though she never regained consciousness. She died around 7:00 am on Tuesday morning. I was privileged, as Pastors and spiritual leaders often are, to be with her and her family in the days and hours before her death. The breadth of human emotion is expressed in a time of imminent mortality. We laughed and cried. And there was GOD's grace and mercy.
Then, Tuesday night I went to Vacation Bible school at Zion in Leola. Cherie and I are offering gathering music to welcome kids every night. It is fun and light-hearted and happy-clappy.
So, on Tuesday I spent time mourning with a family in mourning and rejoicing with a crowd of rejoicing kids and adults! What other job in the world is like this---with people in the midst of the ups and downs. It can feel like a roller coaster, schizophrenic, and I love it!

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