Monday, November 26, 2007

Leaving ....


This short sermon speaks eloquently of the symbolism of the Christian's home-going. Not long ago, it was read at the funeral of a friend's brother and then her husband who died within months of each other. May it bring comfort to those who read it today.


“I’m standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other.

And then I hear someone at my side saying, “There, she’s gone.”



“Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her."


“And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she is gone” there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up glad shout,

“Here she comes!”



Written by 19th century clergyman Henry Van Dyke

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much Louise for visitng my blog and praying for me. I 'd like to visit you and be your friend. God bless.

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  2. The ttle of your blog is very deep. we have to reminded each moment of our lives that we are living before the face of God.

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