Monday’s Moment of Shalom…
Shalom in Remembering
I received sad news today. A longtime, dear friend died a few days ago. Even though we know death is an inevitable part of life, it is so hard to say those final earthly good-byes. On this Memorial Day, I would like to honor some of the loved ones Ron and I will be remembering and look at shalom we can discover in remembering …
During seasons when the world as we’ve known it is turned upside down by loss and grief, the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) becomes extra important. Shalom is what eventually and progressively restores at least a small measure of harmony, interior peace, completeness, prosperity, and welfare to our souls.
Remembering the good times with our beloved ones who have transitioned from their earthly to eternal homes is one way in which we may experience shalom.
Yesterday, after church, Ron and I went to the gravesite in North Spokane where my parents, Al and Kathryn Coyner, are buried. Early this morning, we set off on a three-hour drive to Central Idaho where Ron’s folks, George and Loretta Reeve, were laid to rest.
I’ll take my journal and jot down things Ron and I remember about qualities of our parents as well as some of the special events we shared with them. The flowers we leave won’t be at all elaborate because we know our dads wouldn’t care one bit about flowers, and both of our thrifty moms would scold us if they knew we’d spent a lot of money! If we shed a tear or two, it won’t be because we feel sorrow, but because remembering often elicits bittersweet emotions.
Green Creek cemetery, overlooking rolling farmlands, may be one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been.
Hundreds of flags flutter in the breeze at Fairmont Cemetery. My dad was a WWII veteran, and those flags remind me to give thanks for the brave young men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation.
A few verses of scripture in the sad book of Lamentations expresses the paradox of loss and grief which we often feel. While Ron and I will never forget the painful process of sickness that preceded our parents’ passing, we also never lose site of HOPE. We hold on firmly to God’s never-ending love, mercy, and faithfulness as well as to the mysterious promise of Heaven and forever life.
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness…
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember…
But there’s one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
(Lamentations 3:19-23 MSG)
No matter how you and your family spend the Memorial Day weekend holiday, I hope you will take a few minutes to remember loved ones who are no longer with you. My prayer is that in remembering, you will also experience a deep sense of shalom.
Blessings on your journey,
Shalom, Shalom (Note: In the Hebrew language, repeating a word twice is a linguistic technique to emphasize its importance.)