Post by homebase on Apr 4, 2009 8:08:52 GMT -5
As a young Priest in Kentucky, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a new cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be buried there. I was not familiar with the backwoods area, and I soon became lost. Being a typical man, I did not stop to ask for directions.
I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the open grave, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. The digging crew was eating lunch.
I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave. There I saw the vault lid already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, as I told them that this was the proper thing to do.
The workers gathered around the grave and stood silently, as I began to pour out my heart and soul.
As I preached about 'looking forward to a brighter tomorrow' and 'the glory that is to come,' the workers began to say 'Amen,' 'Praise the Lord,' and 'Glory!'
The fervor of these men truly inspired me. So, I preached and I preached like I had never preached before, all the gospels and epistles!
I finally closed the lengthy service with a prayer, thanked the men, and walked to my car.
As I was opening the door and taking off my robes, I heard one of the workers say to another, 'I ain't NEVER seen nothin' like that before, and I've been puttin' in septic tanks for thirty years
I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the open grave, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. The digging crew was eating lunch.
I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave. There I saw the vault lid already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, as I told them that this was the proper thing to do.
The workers gathered around the grave and stood silently, as I began to pour out my heart and soul.
As I preached about 'looking forward to a brighter tomorrow' and 'the glory that is to come,' the workers began to say 'Amen,' 'Praise the Lord,' and 'Glory!'
The fervor of these men truly inspired me. So, I preached and I preached like I had never preached before, all the gospels and epistles!
I finally closed the lengthy service with a prayer, thanked the men, and walked to my car.
As I was opening the door and taking off my robes, I heard one of the workers say to another, 'I ain't NEVER seen nothin' like that before, and I've been puttin' in septic tanks for thirty years