Sadness

On Tuesday I conducted a memorial service for a member of our church community. The disturbing thing for me was that we did not even know that the chap had been ill. Our Youth Pastor received a call from his daughter - who had been in the confirmation class 2007 - at 06h00 on Friday to say that her dad had died. She was, of course in a state, and Kyle went to see the family and I followed up with a visit later in the morning. Graham had been in hospital for three and a half weeks, being admitted with pancreatitis. They thought that he was pulling through, but then all systems gave up and he died. Fortunately (I believe) they were called by the hospital and were with him and able to say their good-byes at the end. A complicating factor was that he had been addicted to alcohol, and there were many regrets and what-ifs that needed answering. Can one ever answer adequately? Graham himself, and his wife, had not been regular church attenders, although he made sure that his daughters (now aged 16 and 14) went to Sunday School. At a time like this I find it important to get the family to recognise the fruits of faith that had been (hopefully) in the person's life. Graham had been a good father and provider for his family, and been the initiator of much fun. They knew that they were loved - even though they struggled with the effects of his addiction and, consequently, were responsible for arguments and 'bad words' between them and him. However, what I did find encouraging was that the extended family and work colleagues seemed to lend much valuable care, encouragement and support during the time of Graham's hospitalisation, and, according to his wife, prayed much for him and them. So although we ourselves were in the dark concerning the desperate circumstances that the family was experiencing, other parts of the body of Christ were there for them. And this is what it means to be the church, does it not?? I thank God that there are many active, involved, caring members of God's family testifying to their faith and love for God, and bringing hope and comfort to those in need of it.