Just Thinking.........Again

As we were coming home after church last Sunday I saw a sight that has stuck in my mind and I just can't get it out.  I keep wondering if I'm to come to some profound thought or if there is some great message I am to take from this.  If so, I've blown it.  I simply feel the need to write about it and see where it goes.  So as I write this it is probably therapeutic for me.  I have no story, no premise and no conclusion.  Maybe there is something here for someone specific, I don't know, maybe it's for you.    

There is a cemetery on the edge of Sweetwater.  There is really nothing special about it and we've driven by there hundreds of times.  From the road the ground rises away from you to the top of a hill.  There are hundreds of grave stones covering the side of the hill, all the way to the top.  The grass was very green, freshly mown.  There are no trees in the main part of the cemetery so it is pretty wide open and sunny.  Because of Mother's Day, there were lots of fresh wreaths and flowers giving the graveyard some color. 

Like everyone else, we rarely notice a graveyard unless something is going on there; either a group of people or cluster of cars.  Then, in our mind, we say, "Oh, I wonder who died?"  We have a passing thought, comment about the size of the group, sometimes we feel sorry for them because it is raining and dreary or dreadfully hot.  For the most part, our thoughts are back on life before we've completely passed by.

As I said, last Sunday, I came around the corner and my eye immediately was drawn about two thirds of the way up the hill.  There amid all the gravestones was an old man standing by himself, facing sideways from our view with his head down.  He was standing perfectly still.  He was possibly praying or just deep in thought.  There were other people in the cemetery at the time but they were further up the hill in a cluster.  This man was by himself and for some reason I could feel his loneliness, Bev (my wife) commented about him also. 

We wondered aloud if this man was visiting the grave of his mother or his wife.  It was so sad and heavy.  Even though it was sunny out, there was a darkness of death about the picture.  Was he talking to his loved one, longing for the day when he might see them again?  Maybe he was deep in thought, reliving memories of childhood, the good old days, smiles, hugs and a word from the one he loved.  I imagine his heart was wrenched with the emptiness that started the day that person passed away and has never gone away.  The pain from it has only been slightly dulled by time.  Maybe the pain reminds him of her.

I don't like to think about this part, none of us do.  However it's possible this man stood there with no hope and in total despair.  It may be that he stood there knowing his loved one wasn't in heaven.  Maybe he also had no real knowledge of God or the saving grace of Jesus.  I can't imagine the how overwhelming life would be without that hope, how much more would the burden be when dealing with death and loneliness.  Where would you draw the strength to go on?

The sight and thought of that old man has haunted me all week.  I wish now I would have stopped and talked to him.  It didn't even occur to me at the time.  I don't know what I would have said or how I would have said it but if I was there, he wouldn't have been by himself and maybe we could have taken some of that loneliness away for a few minutes.  Maybe we could have prayed, shared a scripture or just listened to him.  Maybe he needed someone to offer him hope.  At this point, all I know is that it's too late for any of that.

Maybe this is one of those feelings that comes with age.  It's the thought that maybe I should slow down, look around and not be in such a hurry.  Maybe it was time to stop the rat race long enough to comfort another human being.  The old man standing on the hill by himself may be someone you or I know.  The old man standing on the hill may be me one of these days.  What would I be saying, praying or thinking?  Would I want a kind stranger to spend a moment with me? 

I think I could type all evening trying to draw a conclusion but it just isn't there.  I'll let you draw your own.  You've probably heard it said before but it needs to be repeated.  We spend more time planning a vacation or retirement than we do our death.  Maybe the man on the hill was a picture of facing death alone……. We all will…… there is a 100% chance of it.  Are you prepared?  Are you ready to stand before a just and righteous God?  Are you hoping that God thinks you've done good things, been a good person and will allow you to enter into His eternal glory?  Or, do you have the assurance of your salvation? 

The bible tells us that we've all sinned and fallen short.  None of us are good enough or could ever do enough to please our Creator.  A holy God will judge rightly, not allowing the unrighteous and wicked to avoid judgment.  God demands punishment for sin.  The penalty of sin is death.  The good news is that Jesus Christ paid the sin penalty for you on the cross.  He took on our sin and paid the debt in full on the cross and overcame death.  We, in turn, get his righteousness.  This is not automatic; it's not a default position.  God gives you the decision.  You have to make a conscious decision to trust in Christ and repent of your sins.  Jesus said in John 3, "You must be born again."  This is a spiritual rebirth that brings the assurance of eternal life in heaven. 

Just Thinking

Doug