“ My Auntie's Passing ”(Psalm 42)

Today's the farewell for my aunt,
Whose spirit is like the deer which pants
At pool beside that waterfall
(Two hunted beings) – best of all –

She hovered close as I pressed in,
Encouraged me to just begin
To say my words in photo-ways
(Before the others) – even paid –

My way to photograph a scene –
World-Council meeting which had been
Laid out in Montrιal with reps
From member churches – where I slept –

At home of priest near waterfall,
Amazing torrent – but of all
The things I took away that week –
Recalled now; folks will gather, seek –

To bid a fond farewell to her
Now she's passed on – on her confer
Remembrances of treasured times
She touched their lives in ways sublime.

She had that way of helping you
To rise beyond your current view,
And see a possibility
In life that's yours – of what might be.

I owe so much to what she'd said –
Words linger here, and ways she led,
And entered into life around,
Then left it better than was found.

Lord, hold such precious seed today
And blow her chaff of life away,
As harvest-time for her has come,
And times for change at last are done –

As it will be for all of us
Who struggle, strive, amidst this fuss
Of life upon this frozen turf,
Or on some island in the surf.

We pray forgiveness in her case,
As she's departing from this place;
Grant that her best may linger still
'Mongst us, whose cup she's helped to fill.

I had not seen what pics to take,
But here, today, it's clear – I'll make
"One sentence sermons" from each one
Who to World-Council meetings come.

"Sure, I was not mature back then,
So missed my chance, but I can send
Such other photos 'round the world
On Internet amidst this swirl –

For it's so easy to obtain
Their thoughts, then turn them back again,
Transposed – for folks are seldom heard –
But now I hear Your Holy Word.

Lord, thanks for this last gift through her –
A gift-assignment – I concur
With what You've taken from that life,
Passed on to me – for self, and wife.

Thanks Holy Spirit for this.

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