Into the Mists of Time: a reflection
I have conducted hundreds of funerals over the years – some of people who had lived demonstrably rich lives which were celebrated by hundreds of folk in their funeral services, some of people whose influence had been profound in more limited spheres – like the grandmas who had brought up children of parents who died or left; but still others of people who had left no, or almost no family. Only a handful of people attended their funerals and they seemed to be forgotten almost the moment they died!
We will all of us eventually be lost in the mists of time as the lives of families and communities march on after our deaths. Some of us will leave our names on the honours boards of schools and clubs, or will be mentioned in biographies or feature in future history courses; most of us will appear in family photo albums, but we all have photos of people which were not ‘captioned’ soon after being taken, people who have no friends or relatives left alive who can recognize them and thus whose identity has been forgotten!
But before we become too negative, even though our identities and lives may be unrecorded, most of us will leave our mark in the gene pool of our human species. If that is too remote a thought to be comforting, we will leave our marks on our future families. After a baby is born, someone is sure to say: ‘Look, she’s got uncle Ted’s nose..’ [poor thing, what a legacy!!]. Many children and grandchildren will have similar interests and skills to those of their forebears. And we can all leave our mark in causes such as better and deeper soils, reestablishment of habitat for endangered native birds, pollution control in waterways, and so on.
The continuing influence of some people will be damaging, divisive and destructive. Donald Trump, for example, has left a legacy of chaos in the United States, the extent of which we are just beginning to realise, with the Trump-manipulated Supreme Court’s forthcoming law changes on abortion. And Vladimer Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is certain to increase levels of uncertainty, poverty and suffering in Europe for many decades.
But more significant than the legacy of the Trumps, Putins, Hitlers and their like, will be the lasting influence of Jesus. Jesus lived over 2000 years ago and is one of the very few people whose memory hasn’t been lost in the mists of time! He demonstrated in his own life, the world-changing power for good of Love and its allies of compassion, thoughtfulness and self-denial. The writing of Paul in the Bible explores the dimension of reality that is often ignored – the realm of the Spirit. Galatians 5 for example, is a key chapter. Verses 14 to 21 describes the negative qualities of human nature that we – in our turbulent world - are distressingly familiar with. But then in verse 22 we find a hugely encouraging verse: ‘The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.’ These qualities in individual people can enrich the life of any community and can bring new meaning and purposefulness into each of our lives!
Rev Dr Bob Eyles
Worship Leader and retired minister