My friend Elizabeth passed away from cancer last week. She planned her own open house and funeral. For the open house, they created a room of displays of the important things in her life. Suspended with wire above her desk, chairs, and other furniture, the family hung selections of her original poetry and photographs. This exhibit was carefully curated, professionally printed, and elegant. Her words were everywhere, reminding us that she loved her family, trusted the Lord, and found joy in life. During the last years of her life, Elizabeth gifted strangers with roses for fun. In the spirit of this, there were hundreds of roses, prepared so each guest could take one home. I could smell these roses as I approached the church, probably 20 feet from the door.
As I worked my way through the museum-quality displays, I looked for her family members. I found her teenage daughter first, my violin student, cheeks flushed and smiling, with her friends surrounding her. I gave her hugs and encouragement, but did she need them? She was radiant. As I left, I spotted my friend’s husband. Like the gentle halos of light in old religious art, I saw glory around him, too.
There is a hole in their lives, gaping and raw, and that loss will be felt more and more, and then a little less, but never gone. I am lifted by the memory of them “glowing” that night. I see more clearly how important it is to trust God’s plan for our lives. Trust in the Lord becomes a strong foundation and a light during dark times. The light will radiate from countenances, unforgettable to those who see it, while it sustains the people who radiate it. It’s powerful because the Source of this light is the One who said, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.”