Dying Moments

Today I am officiating a funeral for a little boy named Brendon. Remarkable character, full of life, and animated by something larger than his own life and circumstances. Brendon died Sept 10. If you have a chance, take time to read his mom's narrative of those dying moments (below). You will be blessed, and your life will be better for it!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:20 PM, CDT
It is with a heavy heart and a tired mind that I have to tell you that Brendon Scott Coates, earned his angel wings and passed from this world into heaven this morning at 0609.He went peacefully...I was sleeping next to him and was woken at around 0500 by Tony who told me that his heart rate was very slow. I held my baby and just stared at his face, counted every single eyelash, rubbed every inch of his beautiful body and watched him as the breaths got smaller and smaller and the heartbeat faded and faded and his color simply fell from his body, and then eventually he just slipped away. He didn't take any last big breath, he wasn't gasping, he wasn't in any kind of pain whatsoever...it was as if while I was holding him, God wrapped his arms around both of us and just transfered Brendon from my arms into his. His heart just stopped beating silently. He looked as though he had a smile on his face, that cute innocent Brendon grin he so many times had even when times where rough. It was his way of saying, "it will be okay Mom, you're gonna be okay". I could almost hear his sweet little voice saying that to me as he left.

A Franciscan Benediction

I ran across this quote--a Franciscan benedition--from my wonderful wife Heather. It is the quote included in her email signature, and it has really rung something with me. "Benediction" comes from the roots for "good word." It is worth ruminating on this good word...

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

"May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

"May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

"And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done."

Beautiful, provokative, inspiring, challenging!

Blessings,
JON