In Honor Of

 

In Honor Of

Theology in the Trenches

By Kathleen Kjolhaug

 

The carpet redo at church was for real. For real the troops gathered to get-er-done, and they did. After months of planning and raising the funds needed, the install would soon begin. The hour was upon us. Things had to be moved and removed as the walls were to be painted, the library redistributed, the piano and organ moved before it could be moved back in. You get the picture.

It's interesting the grieving process which takes place within the pockets of the familiar. The old had served a purpose, and while the new would soon be ushered in, there was respectful pause as items were sifted and shifted.

The carpet still held its hue although the green and red swirls were now well beyond dated. Saluting within our hearts those who had chosen it, took place each time a portion was carried out. Someday, I thought, when they pull up that which we are about to lay down, someone, too, will remember the generations who had stomped across it—wearing it plumb out.

Twas in the midst of moving the books when suddenly, a whiff of the past rolled over as I caught sight of a small clear plastic bag. As I tucked the 4x4 inch bag into my pocket, I vowed to take a closer look when I had time. Today, several weeks later, I decided to take a peek into what the small plastic bag held.

Within it were 3x4 inch tags, with the following words, “This Hymnal Presented to___________ in Honor of___________.” A peel and stick backing on each was also noted. In other words, these were purchased to place within hymnals in honor of another. As well, within the small bag I’d confiscated was a note. It had apparently been hand-written by the keeper of the hymnal fund who took note of not only who’d purchased each hymnal, but for whom—in Honor of.

The purchase price of each was a mere $10.15 which was interesting because the last time I checked; each one was selling for over $100 on-line. Some on the list had donated ten (according to the tally marks), while others chose from one to five. Names like Ruth, Helmer, Lois, Lorraine, Clayton, Ray, John, Judy, Alma, Elenora, Ordean, Richard, Ellen, Jeane, and Ernest stood out as each phase of the project had been tracked. Names of those purchasing were written in one color of blue ink along with the total amount owed. Another shade of blue tallied the number they’d committed to buying, while the pencil check-mark indicated they had paid in full.

So, what’s the big deal about finding this treasure? Apparently, the generations before us not only took note, but took pause—as did we while replacing the old with the new.

Although things change and will continue to, one thing need not. It need not change how we hold “in Honor of” those who have gone before us. Just like the old hymnals were replaced with the new—we, too, can pencil life’s penmanship with due dignity. In thought word and deed, we honor—not by resurrecting the old, but by holding tenderly that which was and ever shall be.

And in the end, He touches on this in Rev. 21:4-5. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more. And neither mourning, nor crying out, nor grief shall be anymore. For the first things have passed away. And the One who is sitting upon the throne, said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And he said to me, ‘Write, for these words are most certainly true.’”  Amen.