There is nothing in all of the preaching of God's word that can bring us to the reality of life the way a funeral can. That reality of life is that we must ALL leave this life, this world this body. The Mansions Of Heaven, printed next, was taken from a funeral I recently attended.

The Mansion of Heaven
This world, however beautiful,
was never meant to be
The place that we would call our home
for all eternity.
And though we would not choose to leave,
a loving God knows best,
And in His time,
He lifts us to a place of peace and rest.
For He has built a mansion
where His children will abide,
Free from pain and sorrow,
forever at His side.
John Powell, a professor at Loyola University tell a true story about one of his students named Tommy, who would constantly object to, smirk at or whine about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God. On the last day of class, Tommy asked cynically whether the professor thought he would ever find God. Using what he called shock therapy, Powell said, "No!" But before the student left the room he continued, "I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"

A couple of years later, Tommy was diagnosed with terminal cancer and for a time, he tried desperately to find God, but to no avail. Then he remembered something said in class; "The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them."

So, beginning with his Dad, he took the risk to say, "Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that." His father then did two things he never remembered him doing before. He cried with his son and hugged him. And they talked all night, even though his Dad had to go to work the next morning. Tommy repeated the same with his mother and brother. And they, too, cried, hugged and shared things that had been kept hidden for years. Tommy's one regret was that he had waited so long to open up to all the people that he had actually been close to.

Tommy shared with his professor that one day, he came to realize and experience God's presence. God had found him! Powell replied, "Tommy, I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, you are saying that the surest way to find God is by opening up to love. You know, the Apostle John said that God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him."

How long has it been since you: Informed your family of your love and appreciation of them? Or taken the time to visit someone who lives alone? Or encouraged someone who is having a hard time? Or earnestly prayed for someone who was faltering? Or told a teen that you were proud of his efforts to live for Christ?

Take the initiative to leave loving, lasting impressions.

This writing taken from KEEP THE FAITH in the Daily Oklahoma, by Jerry Peterson.