something Better

I used a well-traveled Easter illustration in my sermon on Sunday.  But, funny how they come alive sometimes.

The illustration goes like this:  A woman was dying of cancer.  She called the minister over to the house to talk about her last wishes, and said, "When I'm lying in my coffin, I want to have a Bible in my left hand and a fork in my right."  The minister understood the Bible request, but was perplexed by the other one.  She continued on, saying, "I've always enjoyed church potlucks with the food, friends and everything.  But, my favorite part was always toward the end, at dessert time, when someone would clear the table and then say 'keep your fork,' because I knew something better was coming."

I went to visit a woman in hospice.  We talked about her condition, and after a while, she brought up the fact that she didn't have very many more days on this earth.  I bravely said, "Something better's coming," not sure how she would respond to it.  She said, "You're absolutely right.  I'm going on a long trip, and looking forward to it."

If we could only all be so ready.  I'm keeping a fork on my desk.