“Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” That’s what we say in church when someone dies that led a faithful life. In the fire service though, we say: “Rest easy brother, we’ll take it from here.”
Maybe weird for a pastor to say, but I like the fire service mantra better.
Yes, the church one is from the Bible and I have no idea of the start of the fire service’s phrase and I’m probably supposed to like the Bible-y one better, but still…I like the second one better!
I like it better because they both cover what God has done, but the fire service one invites us into our next steps: taking it from here.
Monday, I had the privilege of officiating at the funeral of John “Jigger” Muchow, life member of Rapids VFC, military vet and active member at Zion Lutheran Church. He modeled service, compassion, integrity, family first and care for his community. Sometimes for Jigger, it was as simple as a smile and laugh as he served pancakes at the Legion or the apple crisp at the church. In his life of service, I believe Jigger was showing us how to “take it from here,” how to live into that lifestyle of sharing your blessings with the world.
So when we consider those who have gone before us, how were they preparing us? How do we “take it from here?” And those who are still with us, what have they modeled for us as well?
At St. Paul’s Council meeting Tuesday, we took time to recall the people who have impacted, taught and led us and how we have learned what they modeled and now “take it from here.” We named parents, pastors, work colleagues, coaches and friends. The saints around us come in all shapes and sizes. Some we interact with over a lifetime and some God seems to place in our lives briefly just maybe to show us a thing or two.
Who are those “great cloud of witnesses” that have impacted you? What did they model…show you…live out? Take time to consider that/them today. Maybe reach out to them and thank them for the interaction, the brief moment or the lifetime of repetition.
And then grab that baton, hang on tight and take it from here.
Lord, thank you for all those who have been modeling faithful life for me. Amen
Still in One Peace,
PS