It’s a place where the veil of darkness is beginning to lift, and eternal rays of revealing light shine like the sun at the bottom of a door. It’s a place where frigid cold begins to give way to a wonderful warmth unlike any other. It’s a place of confusing emotions and uncertainty (even for the strongest of faith) . It’s a point in time where the soul stands on the banks of the thundering Jordan River, staring into the vast expanse of Canaan, ready to let go of this world…and transition to peace. A place of tearful goodbyes and joyful release the moments before passing into eternal life.
As we said ‘Amen’ in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, I stared into her 93 year old eyes as they opened…and everything became clear. For a moment I saw myself in her gaze…and I stared into my own unknown future. Every trivial thing in my life melted away…and my focus was on the eternal. A tear rolled down my cheek as I wondered if this would be the last time I saw her this side of life.
There are moments in my life that change everything: putting on Christ in baptism, making a vow (before God and man) to be faithful and true to my wife, my daughter taking her first breaths of life, my grandfather passing away…but the eyes of this seasoned, Christian woman will forever be burned into my mind. That look of relief that the end is near, but also of uncertainty as to what comes after the next breath. The eyes that preached a greater sermon than I have ever heard will be a point of remembrance and an anchor of my spiritual focus. Thank you, Willa Mae, for the parable in your eyes.
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