A moment of silence…

We were asked to stand as the music began once more in our surroundings of the darkened church. It seemed sadder than before.

I looked toward a glimmer of sun breaking through a window and reflecting off the brass cross on the altar.

I looked down at a hymnal … to a somber lyric, crying out to me:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

And with fear and trembling stand;

Ponder nothing earthly minded, 

For with blessing in His hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand…

Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food…

As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day…

‘Is Heaven really endless day?’ I thought, as my mind wandered upward.

That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away…

—

At sometime during the hymn I had sunk into the pew and hung my head in shame.

My eyes flooded with tears.

I recalled from somewhere in my past, my hearing of Reverend Birney’s booming voice from the back of the church to begin our worship service. (I think it was from one of the Prophets.)

THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE.

LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE BEFORE HIM! [Habakkuk 2:20]

At His feet …with ceaseless voice they cry:
Al-le-lu-u-ia–,

Al-le-e-e-lu-ia—
Alleluia, Lord- Most- High!

—

I saw it suddenly – in a little girl’s Picture of Heaven.

All of the hidden glory of the cross, glorified in Heaven!

Then I realized that I was the only one brought to my knees – the only one not standing.

I sheepishly stood once more, as eight men dressed in black began to roll the casket down the aisle beside me toward the doors at the rear of the church.

—