FUNERAL: Robert D. Sherretz

One of the tougher things I do in my "Mixed Ministries" is the funerals. Today was one of those days. I officiated as we said farewell to one of the congregation's men and thanked God for his life. Bob Sherretz was always a little bit in the background when I saw him. He had a quick wit and a quick word, even though he no longer had a quick step.

During the funeral, his son Mike drew attention to a plaque he and his dad had seen right there in the lobby of Snyder's Funeral Home, here in Reynoldsville. It said:

Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Woo-hoo! What a Ride!"

Bob had agreed and chuckled that it had really captured what it meant to live life well.

It was especially fitting since I had felt so strongly that the Scripture passage I was to use was Second Corinthians 5:1-10, which talks about our earthly bodies are like a tent, just a temporary home away from our real home. Tents aren't expected to last forever. Eventually, you start to long for the permanence, safety, security, and comfort of your real home.

Bob's body had been wearing down. bit by bit, for such a long time that the sign Mike shared, and the Scripture God led me to, really seemed to fit this quick, yet quiet, man we had come to honor and commend to Almighty God.

Jesus said (John 14) that he was "going to prepare a place" for us... Bob has given up his temporary 'tent' of a home here on earth for the one Jesus has been preparing for him there. TALK ABOUT AN UPGRADE!

All that's left is to wait till more of the family come on home as well! As Bob has been finding out for a few days now, there's quite a family reunion when a Christian gets through death and enters Heaven.

Please continue to lift up his family in their time of grief.