In the course of my ministry, I have been invited into people’s lives to be a part of some incredibly beautiful and touching moments of families’ lives. Some moments have been joy-filled…others have been tinged with tragedy. In my role as a pastor, I have been a part of great celebrations and also incredible sadness. This is what life is about and this is what ministry is about…being there with people.
Earlier this year there was a day that stood out with two very touching moments. The first, I was with a family as one of their parents had to say goodbye to their spouse that had died. They had shared life together for 60+ years. It was so touching to see the tenderness of the moment and how the surviving spouse gently caressed and touched their life mate who had died. The love was so very real. The connection was so genuine. It’s always such a sad thing to see when the words in the wedding vows “till parted by death” are lived out, especially in a couple who had celebrated so many anniversaries and experienced so much joy and love in those years together.
The very same day, I was driving by one of the care facilities here in our community. I could see two women walking down the sidewalk together. The one was very elderly, kind of hunched over and slowly making her way. The other was a much younger woman, maybe in her 20’s, who was wearing scrubs, so I assumed she was on staff there at the facility I was driving by. But this younger woman was patiently walking right beside the other. As I drove by those two women out walking, I realized they were holding hands. No, this wasn’t a professional way of holding hands to support or guide the one. It was a loving holding hands. Maybe it was a grandma and a granddaughter, or maybe a great grandma and a great granddaughter lovingly taking a late afternoon stroll together. It didn’t appear that many words were being shared between them, but in that moment, there was love, there was connection, there was a memory being made.
I was touched by both these scenes on that particular day. In a world in which it seems there is so much division, anger, and disconnection, it was great to see these situations and moments in which it seemed that love was so real. One moment I was invited into because of my role. The other I happened upon. But like so many moments I’ve experienced, they were both holy and sacred moments.
As many of you read this Friday Reflection, maybe Friday afternoon or evening, I’ll be heading west. I’ve been invited by my niece and her husband to baptize their nine-month-old daughter. I am so honored to be asked to share in this holy moment. I’ll admit, part of me hates being away from our church for our Kick-Off Sunday. This will be a special Sunday! But then I decided, this is a family moment and opportunity to make a special memory. One that doesn’t come around all that often.
A friend of mine, whenever he posts a comment on Facebook for someone’s birthday, he always writes, “Make a Memory!” I haven’t always appreciated or understood his words, but I’ve come to value what he is saying; take the time to connect, take the time to do something special, take the time to do something to create a holy moment that will last a lifetime. No one can take that away! So, today I would encourage each of you to do something special with a family member, you never know when it might be your last time together. Take a walk…hold a hand…don’t worry about words…watch a sunset…just be together. Yes, go ahead and make a memory. Later on you just might realize the holy moment that it was!!!
Pastor Keith