Dallas' Veterans Cemetery is on the far west edge of town, past the Cockrell Hill ghetto zone and getting on to the strange no man's land of the mid-cities connurb. There it is, overlooking what was once a grand prairie, and I pulled up into "Lane 1" to celebrate my friend's funeral.
You've met him, here, as Veteran Crew Chief (VCC). He was a quiet and private man, never loud or boastful, and while he didn't suffer fools gladly he did a lot of good, helping people out quietly, not least his fellow veterans, comrades.
It's a curious thing, "giving the message" to a group of tough people who have done tough things, all under the heat of a Texan sky. What can you do but tell the truth, with a view to consolation, hope, and strength. "My enduring memory of R is this. He approached the Altar with great reverence and humility. I tell you, it humbled me, as a priest."
RS loved the Lord. Rest in peace and rise in glory.
God bless,
LSP
Lovely eulogy, Parson.
ReplyDeleteA lovely man - May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteMost of us can mourn the passing of an authentic human. Your own humility inspires.
ReplyDeleteEverytime somebody like that dies, it's like the Library of Alexandra burning. You can't ever get it back. RIP
ReplyDeleteWe are diminished.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry I never knew him. But Amen to what you said, Parson.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and God bless.
May he rest in peace. Those he trained have the watch.
ReplyDeleteThank you, drjim. He was a good man.
ReplyDeleteHe sure was, Jules. Straight up.
ReplyDeleteYou're kind, WSF. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteWell said, LL, and I wish you'd met. His place wasn't that far from Karen's.
ReplyDeleteBut think, WWW, of the prayers of the faithful. Powerful.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I think you'd have liked him.
ReplyDeleteThat they do, NFO.
ReplyDeleteYou know, funerals only get more emotional for me. You'd think, perhaps, it'd be the other way around but it's not.
He was a good man.
Those we know are hardest to officiate, we muscle through with God’s grace. Well done Pastor.
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Reverend. Just getting very tired of sending to ask for whom the bell tolls of late.
ReplyDelete