The greiving
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 7.09.06At the viewing not only were people still arriving after the proposed closing, but the line wound through the entire funeral home and out into the parking lot. There were lots of tears. Lots.
As a general guess, I’d have to say more than 400 people attended Justin’s funeral. A mix of truly stirring eulogies and music that captured Justin’s spirit, it finally seemed to dawn on me what tragedy this life is. To see his girlfriend, his brother… his father and mother. Those he worked with, ministered to, befriended and loved. To watch as his body was carried out by closest friends…
The funeral procession was made up of 150+ cars, and wound through most of Cleveland, it seemed. It was sad to see the traffic moving on, ignoring it… not to be selfish, but the camaraderie of the human race is gone; broken down and uncaring, no longer sharing in another’s grief.
At the grave site we gathered around as a short message was given by his pastor, a prayer was said, and his body lowered into the ground. You couldn’t really see it happening, but the churning of the gears and the squeaking of the machine served as story tellers. It’s rough, a friend being lowered into the ground. While he was a Christian and thus his passing glorious, a sobering sadness lays in all our hearts, and open sobbing is heard amongst the throngs of people.
I feel at a loss… how do I cope? How do I comfort those around me? We hug, and cry on each other’s shoulders. For now, that’s what I can do, for my grief, and for the grief of those surrounding me.
... but prayers are with us all, as we lift up hands in worship to God, for He sustains.
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