The Voyages of the Starship GENESIS two-seven
The Passenger’s Log 9 October 2021
The other day I had an incredible experience. It is the kind of experience that, at the same time, will warm your heart and be a moment which will break it. Perhaps some things are more intensely felt when we can relate to them directly or with an empathy based on our own emotions. Whatever the case, this particular moment in time will be with me for as long as I walk this earthly realm.
I cannot use names of those involved for certainly they deserve their privacy. Should they happen to read this short recounting of events, they will know of whom I speak for they were present and it will be most obvious to them. If I cause a twinge of pain from my recollection, I apologize profusely to them now, for that would never be my intent.
I was in attendance at a funeral and it was time for last respects to be paid. What happened in the next few minutes will be with me perhaps even longer than I will be around to recall it. The entire service could have been skipped minus the minute this boy had with his grandfather. In that minute, every word of the pastor was swallowed up by a child’s faith.
I purposely sought to not eavesdrop. Perhaps the most sacred of human communication would be the last words we speak to a loved one just prior to their burial. I was honored to have been where I was, in such close proximity. Such is the nature of a divine gift.
The young boy asked his father if he could go back to see his grandfather one last time. As he walked up, I could see he was barely able reach across and he laid his hand across his grandfather’s chest. With the palm of his small hand laying against his grandfather’s heart, with a courage unmet by most I know, he bravely declared, “I will never forget all that you taught me,” He spoke a bit more and then, his mission complete he turned and quietly walked away. Stoic, strong, absolute with a broken heart. A man in a small boy’s body.
I thank the Lord for allowing me to witness this grieving young man and I ask Him to watch over this little fellow as he grows.
To watch the heart of a small boy breaking over his grandfather’s death hits very close to home. If I did not believe fully, unconditionally in the love of Christ to care for those who grieve for us, I could not bear to go another mile on this voyage, though I have little choice. Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We can commit those we love so deeply to our God’s care and know they will always be loved.
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