Hope in the rain
A reflection for All Souls by Revd Jo Mackriell
In the book of Hebrews, we read these words, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (11.1)
Hope and assurance is something that we have needed more than ever this year. For many people, the funeral of a loved one has not been the send off we had wanted for them, with reduced numbers allowed in to mourn their loss. For some, including myself, it was not possible to attend a funeral at all when a good friend passed away earlier in the year. I hope that some will find this service a comfort in marking the death of a friend, a partner, a parent or child lost from this life during this year of 2020.
When I conduct a funeral service, I always feel privileged to learn about the life of the person who has died. Even in the stories that might seem to some to describe a mundane life of work, leisure and family, I am reminded of what the psalmist says:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139.14)
From the person that has spent their whole working life in one job, something of a rarity these days, to those that played a part in war time service, or national service, to the ones that simply and faithfully cared for their families without expecting anything in return. All these stories assure us that people will not be forgotten, that the memories and times we have shared will live on.
We find support and hope in the relationships we have with one another when life takes us through the ups and downs that all of us experience at one time or another. God created us to be in relationship with each other, and modelled it in his very nature as the trinity, one in three and three in one. But it is our relationship with God that gives us complete assurance and hope for the future when all around seems bleak. God will never let us down, God will never not listen to our cries. He is always there to support, cherish and remind us of how much we are loved.
I am always particularly moved when I see grandchildren and even great-grandchildren mourning the loss of a grand-parent. For this is God’s future hope standing right there. God has promised us that there is hope for the future.
The other day I was conducting a burial and as the service began it suddenly started to rain; as I concluded the prayers and said those words, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes , dust to dust : in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ…” a glorious rainbow appeared in the sky. That rainbow reminds us of God’s promise. That there is hope, there is a future, and we are all a part of it as our memories remind us of those that we have had in our lives and are thankful for.
I would like to finish with this poem by Henri Nouwen, which I hope will give us all assurance.
HUMMING IN THE DARKNESS
Hope means to keep living
amid the desperation
And to keep humming in the darkness.
Hoping is knowing that there is love,
it is trust in tomorrow
it is falling asleep and waking again when the sun rises.
In the midst of a gale at sea, it is to discover land.
In the eyes of another it is to see that you are understood…
As long as there is hope
There will also be prayer…
And you will be held in God’s hands