Dick’s brother spent
the past week with us. He was here from Texas on a mission—to spread his wife’s
ashes on her family’s farm. He also visited her siblings, spending difficult
but healing time reminiscing and remembering Kate.
As Hebrews 13:7
instructs, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and
considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
For some, visiting
the cemetery is a way to remember those who have gone before. However,
cemeteries offer more. As the fictional character Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, of
the TV show NCIS: Los Angeles, once said, “A walk through the cemetery
clears my mind . . . puts everything in perspective.”
I would have to
agree. Cemeteries offer an oasis of quietude where I find I can re-connect with
God and gain insight into life. I’m not the only one. A writer friend, Virginia
reflects, “For me, I 'hear' a lot when I walk through a cemetery--not the
moans of ghosts, but the whispers of the Holy Spirit.”
How does God
speak in the cemetery? As I linger on a cool, cement bench, a slight, almost
imperceptible breeze bears the fragrance of crushed pine needles, freshly-mown
grass, recent rain, or fallen leaves. God uses these scents to remind me there is beauty
and refreshment not only in the soft smell of a newborn but also in my
sun-spotted, wrinkle-creamed cheek of over six decades.
God opens my
eyes to the subtle signs of life that surround me--a squirrel gnaws a nut;
crows take turns cawing warnings from their sentinel post on a large tombstone;
locusts and crickets drone their singsongs.
God nudges me
to take note of my fellow visitors to the cemetery--walkers, joggers, and cyclists.
Mothers push their babies in strollers. A car wends slowly along the narrow
roads, their occupants seeking a certain spot where they have a
heart-connection. Family members perform labors of love, spouses pay tearful tribute
to lost soul mates, and friends pause in remembrance.
Even in this
place designated for those who have passed, there is life. God inspires me to
ask, “Am I really living—consciously connecting with others, actively
engaging in life instead of merely passing through?
The monuments themselves
speak volumes. Cold marble slabs inscribed with names, dates, scriptures,
prayers, proverbs, dedications, proclamations, poems, and military records
reveal identities, authenticate relationships, relate tragedies, express
sorrows, and witness of faith in God. I am prompted to ask myself, “Do my
thoughts, words, and actions express love, gratitude, and faith?”
Be encouraged!
Pam
©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com
