[Oe List ...] Salmon: On Death -- A reflection at JoAnna's Funeral

[William Salmon]

A Meditation given on the occasion of a death
JoAnna Balloga-Alber, my First Cousin
July 2009
Pueblo, CO

A Reflection on the Significance of Death

	Death is the pits! Yes, death is the pits!
	For some, death leaves an emptiness that can never be filled. There are some here right now for whom the death of JoAnna will leave an empty spot in their hearts, or in their consciousness, that will never be replaced. Death is the pits. 
	However, death can also be a blessing.
	Those of us over 70 spend a lot of time thinking about dieing; I know I do. We observe others who are late in the process of life struggling with the impairments of discrepancy while counting the days until they can lay it down. Their families struggle too, as some of these family members are faithful for many years in their care-giving. For them death is a blessing. They have experienced most of the traditional steps necessary for grief, and what is left is relief. 
	Still, there is another way in which death is a blessing. 
	My father, Bert, died in the mid-1960’s. His was a quick death too. As I reflect on his passing, I remember that both my dad and mother, Evelyn, were wonderful, caring parents. They had jobs during the Depression, and as a consequence neither my sister, Lois, nor myself were deprived of anything we needed or wanted. Maybe I was spoiled, but I’m not certain my sister was. 
	Dad and I were never close. He had a job to do and he did it well. It was not until I laid him in the ground did I suddenly become aware that his presence was with me and never leaves to this very day. I can be walking by a plate-glass window of a store front and catch my breath: there’s dad! No, it is my own reflection. Now, my father is on my meditative counsel. When I have a problem to solve, he is one of those I consult because he always gives such good advice. I want to follow it, but I never do, because I didn’t follow it when he was alive. One of the most meaningful pieces of advice he ever gave me was, “Bill, the only lessons you seem to learn are the hard ones.” Now, that my friends, is really good advice. 

	The Christian Church has not been helpful concerning death. Since the very beginning, the church has embraced some strange ideas. For the first 1,500 years of its existence the church believed that the earth was the center of the universe. They supported the notion that our sun and all of the planets revolved around us. In fact, when Galileo proved to the world that this was not the case, the church ex-communicated him. It was not until the last two years that the church rescinded this relationship. Go figure!
	Then, for this same 1,500 years, the church believed the earth was flat. If people sailed far enough they sailed off the edge into oblivion. However, Columbus didn’t see it this way. He believed the earth was round and that it was possible to sail to the New World. So, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. . . “ and aren’t we glad he did?
	Now, for the last 2,100 years—until current times—the church embraced the notion that Heaven was a place rather than a relationship. The church believed that heaven was a place we go to after we die, instead of heaven as a relationship to God—who is eternal--that we have NOW! 
	When heaven is a relationship, it is something we can enjoy every minute until we die. Then, when these old bodies are returned to dust and ashes—like we find in JoAnna’s box of ashes in front of me—then our spirits are set free to live in the presence of Perfect At-One-Ment for eternity. Eternity is nothing more than living in the Presence of God; the Presence of God is nothing more than the experience of At-One-Ment that is ours to have now. 
	How do we know this is the case? 
	Eternal life is lived in the fulfillment of our intended creation. We are created to live the humane and gracious life while working for justice and mercy. 
	How does this work?
	We fulfill our intended creation when we live by the Golden Rule of, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” When we live like this we fulfill our intended creation. Also, it is when we live by the Divine Commandment, “Love God, love neighbor and love self.” 
	When we live like this then our neighbor is pleased with us, we feel a deep sense of satisfaction, and God smiles. How do we know that God smiles?

	One of my volunteer activities is that as a volunteer chaplain at the Saline County Jail in Salina, KS. Over the years I’ve had more than 80 consultations. One night, after spending the evening counseling male prisoners, the Jail Matron came to me about midnight and said, “Chaplain Bill, I know it is late, but a women prisoner, Mary, would like to visit with you before you leave.” I agreed to the request. 
	A woman who looked like she was 80 years old was ushered into the interview room. She looked wasted. Later, I found out she was only 58. The first words out of her mouth were, “Chaplain, I am so sad, and I’ve been this way all of my life.”
	I looked at her and replied, “Why, Mary, that makes God cry!”
	This reply startled her. She took this in for a few seconds, and then said, “Why would this make God cry?”
	“Mary,” I said, “This is not what God wants for you. God wants you to live with a sense of satisfaction, meaning and purpose.” 
	Again, the prisoner took this in. Then she asked, “How do I make God happy?”
	“Easy,” I said encouragingly. “All you do is to live in peace with your jail cell mates; just be nice. When you do, your jail-mates will like you, you’ll feel good about yourself and God smiles!”
	Immediately, Mary got up to leave. I said, “Whoa, Mary. Where are you going?”
	She looked at me and replied, “Chaplain, I’m going back to my cell. There are women back there that need to hear this message.”
	About two weeks later, I was in the women’s jail section, and I asked the matron how Mary was doing. Her reply startled me. She replied, “Chaplain, I don’t know what you said to Mary the other night, but the next morning Mary got up and cleaned herself up the best she could with what she had to work with. Then she gathered the women prisoners who were going to court for their sentencing, and they prayed together. Later that afternoon, she gathered the women to start a Bible Study. Mary had never read the Bible before.
	Now, I ask you, do you think this makes God smile?

	JoAnna made God smile. She practiced hospitality almost to a fault; all were welcome at her door and free to engage however best we could. She was self-giving to her children, her family and to her co-workers in the hospital and nursing homes where she worked practicing her profession as a nurse. JoAnna made God smile. 
	Can you use JoAnna’s death as an example for you to make God smile?

	Are you ready? Then, let’s pray, 
“Lord, awaken us to our eternal life with you now. Call us into service to our neighbors, and to reach out to all those who are our neighbors so that we can make God smile. Amen.” 
	

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