I have known, for a bit, a lady named Polly, who blessed me. And having known her blesses me still. I can still say that I know Polly, but after the call that came late last night, I can now say that I know Polly as a fully naturalized citizen of heaven. She has no more pain there, no more tears or fears, being able to gaze fully on the face of Jesus. So this is a glad morning, for her.
I cried, when I took the call. It was a human reaction, overlaying my heart's core knowledge, that Polly is just fine. It is simply that the contrast, between her present case and that of the rest of us, is so stark. And I think the reason that the scene of Jesus weeping at Lazarus' tomb came to my mind, has to do with that. Our sorrows at what feels like loss, are validated by Jesus' tears.
"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory." So goes the old song, and even as my eyes are streaming again, I know it to be truer than ever.
"...if there be anything lovely or of good report, think on these things." I think, I want to manage the rows I have been assigned, as well as Polly tended hers. So I shall have to use her methods and tools. For Polly, "it all came down to faith." And why shouldn't it? Young Polly put her very life into God's hands, and He sent a husband right to her door, literally. I look over what I know of Polly's life story, and see all the truths I want most to imbibe, writ large there. "Trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." "For we walk by faith, not by sight." "So let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us." "The heart of her husband trusts safely in her." "Her children rise up and call her blessed." "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." "Faith is the victory that overcometh the world."
I don't want to think of 'funeral' right now, or ever. My experience of Polly has been one that fed life into me, not the inevitability of physical death. I know that the grave is empty, and heaven is fuller by one.
"Some glad morning, when this life is over, I'll fly away
To a home of God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O Glory! I'll fly away.
When I 'die', Hallelujah! bye-and-bye, I'll fly away."
To slip the surly bonds of earth, and touch the face of God, as the poet penned.
It is a glad morning.
