Clothesline - Edition 216

By Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson, Pastor

September 11, 2024  

This is my first Clothesline since returning home from my sister’s Memorial service. And today is September 11th.  Certainly, my thoughts are leaning toward my own mortality. But today…is September 11th. It’s been twenty-three years since four jet planes attacked our country, killing thousands of people. We all remember exactly where we were on that terrible day in our country’s history. I especially remember it because only one month later, I was scheduled to fly to Rhode Island to officiate at my daughter’s wedding. While my she was worried, I joked, “If I wear my collar on the plane, I’ll be treated better or I’ll be shot first; either way, I win!” Just my way of dealing with a frightening situation. My sister’s way of dealing with her situation was to write her own obituary and leave all necessary instructions regarding her belongings. She continued her daily knitting… and just…waited. Mortality. She wasn’t afraid. She knew where she was going.

Psalm 23 was her favorite. A friend of hers had it printed and framed for her. She had told me how happy she was to have it on her dresser…

     The Lord is my Shepherd…I shall not want.

 Personally, I’ve never cared for the tradition of funeral home wakes, but at least the memory card each person was given had the 23rd Psalm printed under her picture…

      He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…

      He leadeth me beside still waters…

      He restoreth my soul.

Do you ever think about your own mortality? The older I get, the more I think about it—not in a morbid way, but in the way every Christian should. We work most of our lives. We acquire lots of possessions. We live, love, and try to follow the Lord who made us, remembering…

     He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

        for his name’s sake.

     Yea, though I walk through the valley

        of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

        for thou art with me;

       thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As I sat in the front row of her church, I wasn’t sad. Over the past few years, we shared many conversations about our faith, things we never talked about before. She was prepared. I know exactly where she is.

Life goes on for both of us, but for her it’s different. No pain. No problems. Just an existence in the presence of Jesus. That is what we all pray for. Mortality is nothing to fear. It awaits all of us, and exactly how we reach that day, will depend on how we spend the days we’ve been given. If you have lost someone close, know that you will be together again…someday.

      Thou preparest a table before me

          in the presence of mine enemies;

          thou anointest my head with oil;

          my cup runneth over.

     Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

          all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.