The Funeral

[Naomi]

As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a graveside service for a derelict man who had died while traveling through this area. The funeral was held well out into the countryside. This man would be the first to be laid to rest at this cemetery. I was not familiar with the backwoods area and I became lost. Being the typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late, I noticed the crew and back hoe, but the hearse had departed. The workmen had stopped to eat their lunch. I apologized to the workers for my tardiness (they were nonchalant at my admission) and continued their meal. I stepped up to the side of the open grave, to find the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers that I would not hold them for long but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still munching on their lunch. I poured out my heart and soul. As I preached, the workers began to say, "Amen! Praise the Lord and Glory!" I preached like I'd never preached before. I began with Genesis and went all the way to Revelation. I preached for two hours and 15 minutes. I closed in prayer and finished. As I was walking to my car I felt that I had done my duty and would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication. Opening the door of my car I began to remove my coat. It was then I heard one of the workers say to the others, "I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I ain't never seen or heard nothing like this before."

[Neil D]

Amem!