When People Die

Next Sunday we're going to have a service to honor the memory of a man I never met who was a long-time and faithful member of Trinity.

Others will be speaking.

I'm only going to read a poem by a friend in college who wrote it for her friend who died in Viet Nam.

It goes like this:

WHEN PEOPLE DIE

When people die

It's like a bird flying into a window

    On the coldest day of the year.

When people die

It's like the bears have escaped from the zoo

     And are eating children on the street.

When people die

It's like a maniac has taken over the power station

    And the lights go off and on and off

    And on and off.

When people die.

 

I'm also going to read the Prayer of St. Francis, which is probably my favorite prayer.

It goes like this:

"Lord, make us instruments of your peace. When their is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may  not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen"

Not much more to say.