Nov. 11 falls on a Friday this year. I have no doubt that every UC minister in Canada will wear a poppy on the Sunday before it, and perhaps even have a sermon about it - as they should.
But perhaps on Sunday, Nov. 13, we could stir a congregation to a little less self-righteousness in their remembrance. We might remember those who died - and then take a moment to ask why we sent them to die - and also to kill.
Our recent discussions of death and after death have got me thinking.
I rarely do a service where the body and casket are present. I also rarely do a service with a funeral home involved. Most now are cremations and most use an alternative service (originally a co-op but I don't know if it still is) in Thunder Bay. About half the time we do a comittal of ashes immediately following the service and half the time they wait for a later date.
Tomorrow I will go to the funeral of a mother and daughter. I will be one of many mourning a tragedy in our community.
The daughter, so young, so full of youthful aspirations, will always remain an enigma. I will never know who she would have become, but through her mother I witnessed the belief that she was, would always be, a shining light. I can envision what that young woman could have been. The loss is great.
