During my nearly 20 years of ordained ministry, I have watched people live and die. I have witnessed people struggle in life due to fear, addiction, resentment, victimization and a host of other afflictions that  they were not able to overcome and find peace. I have also witnessed people overcoming great hardship, self- inflicted or not. They have found peace and grace to rise above their present suffering or past injuries to live in a way that  honors God and themselves. In other words Holy Living. To live a holy life is not the exclusive realm of monks and nuns, or martyrs and saints. Holy Living is about living in such a way that we are open to God's Grace and peace, His forgiveness and healing, his power and guidance. We invite His will to be done in our lives as it is in heaven and in surrendering our wills we find peace and grace even in the midst of suffering and difficulty. Holy living is not living a charmed life free of suffering and adversity.  Rather it is a life peppered with pain and hardship that  is transformed into an opportunity to reflect God's grace in the world. As Jesus said in John's Gospel, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  And it is his desire to transform our suffering into opportunities of grace.

I have also witnessed many people passing from this life to the next. Most leave this world as they have lived it. For some, they have left with fear, regret and sorrow for things they have done and for things they have left undone. I have watched as folks once again reject the grace and forgiveness of God and have gone their own way into death confident that nothing awaits them.  My heart breaks for those who die without hope, without God's grace and peace. But in the end we get to choose in this life how we will respond to God's affections for us. And in death we receive what we have chosen.

I have also travelled with folks as the walk the journey of a holy death. Monday morning I walked into the hospital room of Joan Spinks who suffered a massive stroke the Thursday before. Gathered around her bed were her daughter, Clair, and Clair's husband Jim and Joan's son Andrew. When I entered the room there was a fragrance of grace. This hospital room had been transformed into a sanctuary of God's peace and presence. Claire, Andrew and Jim shared with me how they had been keeping vigil by their mother's bed side praying morning and evening prayer, reading Scripture to Joan who lays unconscious and dying. Soft music and low lights create an atmosphere of calm. I was in awe of the faith of this family. During this most painful and challenging time in their lives this family chose not to submit to fear and foreboding.  Instead, they embrace the grace of God in the face of death.  They allow God to bring Joan's life to a close in a way that honors her and her lifelong faith.  A way that also honors Joan's children and their faith, and most importantly, honors God and his place as the ruler of the universe and the lover of man.

Joan will pass away in the next few days. And we grieve not for her but for ourselves for we continue this life without her. Our hearts are sore in thanksgiving because we know for Joan life will not end but be changed.  And when she closes her eyes in death, in the next moment they will open and she will see her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face.  And she will not see him as a stranger, but as a friend and he will embrace her and whisper in her ear, "Well done, good and faithful servant, well done." And she will pass into eternal life in the kingdom of God.  We are all invited to live holy lives and in doing so we insure a holy death.

May the peace of God be upon you Joan.  We will see you again in the Kingdom of God.