Return from the House of Mourning

Ecclesiastes 7:2 says,

"Better to go to the house of mourning
Than to go to the house of feasting,
For that is the end of all men;
And the living will take it to heart."

Late yesterday evening we returned from the house of mourning. Last Saturday night (10/6) my uncle was shot and killed in front of the shop he owned where he worked as a mechanic. It is a sad, sad story. He was 49 years old. The police have arrested his wife. The police haven't found the gun, but they have found enough circumstantial evidence to make the arrest.

So Holly, the kids and I travelled to be with the family Thursday for the wake and the funeral was yesterday afternoon. The funeral home was packed. I wasn't sure how many people to expect, but apparently my uncle was well respected in the community where he lived. It was good to see family I hadn't seen in a long time. Some possibly five years or more.

But as much as my uncle was apparently loved within the community, he was unprepared to meet the Lord. The vast majority of my this side of my family are either non-Christians or unfaithful. But there are several faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who were there, and for us it was our realization of my uncle's probable eternal dwelling place that we wept most.

At the funeral very little was said of my uncle. Sadly, there was probably very little that could have been said. He was a hard worker. He was an honest man, loyal to his friends. He loved dogs. He loved to fish. I don't know of much more I could have said. But the good news was that the minister did preach the gospel to all who were there.

As I sat on the fourth (and last) row of the family "Reserved" section, I wondered what type of ground the Seed was falling on as the minister spoke. As I watched the reaction of my family, a few cried, one appeared to visibly reject the Word, but most sat expressionless, staring forward.

I pray that my family will think about their condition before GOD and the words that the minister spoke. I ask you to please pray for them as well.