Tell Good Stories…..

This past weekend there was a funeral at our church that I would not have ordinarily attended as I did not know the deceased other than by her name on a prayer concern list, and a nodding acquaintance with her children. I was part of the team that set up the video feed for the overflow crowd.
She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 9 years ago, and fought a courageous fight, living life a fully as she was able - there were times when her chemo limited that ability, but, as I understand it, she served as an example to those in a similar situation. She spent her last days setting up the caterer for the reception after the funeral.  All this I learned at her funeral - so much more a celebration of a great life than a time of mourning and sorrow.

Our pastor told an amazing story during the funeral: He and his wife enjoy observing people and were doing so 18 years ago in an airport in Israel while on vacation. They noticed an older couple while waiting for a plane, and were amazed at the joy and humor emanating from them, so much so that he commented “I want some of that” in his life. They went so far as to take the couple’s picture, and it was filed away with other vacation photos.

Fast forward 16 years, and the pastor is assigned to a new church, as Methodist pastors are prone to do. Upon meeting Mr. and Mrs. Leach, the pastor swore that he had met them before - only after a review of old photos did he realize that this was the couple from the airport so many years ago.

She will be missed by many, and I’m sorry that I didn’t know her.