Dear Death

This is a powerful bit of writing by Rev Steve Garnaas-Holmes, a United Methodist Pastor in his latest blog, Unfolding Light.

Grace and Peace to you.          Death no longer has dominion.  —Romans 6.9 Ah, Death, poor Death, we respect you and the empire you have established; we honor your wide jurisdictions and observe your feasts and seasons. But we don't belong to you. We don't believe in you. We don't fear you or your armies and their horrible weapons, their wars, their plagues and pandemics. For Jesus, bearing our souls, has walked through you like smoke and out the other side. Our Christ, in love, has taken you in chains. With him we have already died — we have already died—and been raised, and passed beyond your power. Come early as you may, you are too late for us! Our funerals are acts of happy sedition in your sad, decaying empire: for every funeral we hold, dear Death, is yours. We live not under your sway, but life's, and love's eternal breadth crammed into this brief span. We mean no disrespect when we sing joyous songs at your wake, when we dance on your grave, our precious, departed Death. We tell you plainly our power: in love, poured out in us, we are free even in your pallid grip to love, to sing, to rejoice. Ah, Death, dear Death, come take our hands and join the dance of life.

__________________ Steve Garnaas-Holmes Unfolding Light www.unfoldinglight.net