What Joy to Know

“What joy to know, when life is past,
The Lord we love is first and last,
The end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace,
Transport us to that happy place
Beyond all tears and sinning!
Amen! Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Crown of gladness!
We are yearning
For the day of Your returning!”

O Morning Star How Fair and Bright,
Philipp Nicolai

I remember sharing promises graveside one winter when the actual temperature was -29 degrees.

It was dangerously cold as a polar vortex hovered over central Wisconsin. We all agreed that time by the graveside would be as brief as possible so that we could keep each other safe. Starting with Psalm 23, speaking the words, "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust," bringing comfort through readings, praying the Lord's prayer, sharing final words of blessing... our time together outside was just about five minutes long and we all left together, icicles on our faces, to warm our fingers and toes with cups of coffee and comfort food.

I didn't amend the service that day. In fact, had the weather been 72 and sunny, the service would have been just as short - but perhaps people would have lingered a little longer. The graveside liturgy is intentionally short - meant to reflect the brevity of life on earth. When spoken as written, it lasts only minutes.

We are people who proclaim the resurrection. This All Saints Day, I'm thinking of those whose lives were shorter than most: some who lived only days; some who died in the middle of things. That life is short hits me today as both law and gospel. That life is short is a freedom that brings me great hope and a pressure that drives me to be wise with the gift of time that I have to live.

And yet, what joy to know the resurrection - already mine - already yours. We live in finite-life-infinate. God holds every minute. God holds forever. This All Saints Day, may you feel the blessing and gift of time.

The Rev. Jenn Pockat
Associate to the Bishop
Director for Communications and Community