Message shared to celebrate the life of Leslie Lester Anderson, at United Church in Meadowood, on Jan 8, 2016
Based on John 14:1-6
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, “In my
Father’s house there are many dwelling places. … I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so where I am, there you
may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
When I first opened this chapter and read these
words, I was moved. I was reminded of the precious memories Marilyn shared with
me about her father, Les, especially about his love for his family members, who
he always put before himself; he loved and endlessly treasured his children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Les was patient and tender with his
little toddlers. He is remembered for his life-long enthusiasm about
spending time with his little followers in the family cottage on the lake. He
introduced them all, each one, with kindness and joy, to his personal world, to
summer cottage life. Marilyn said to me, “We all gravitated on the lake every
summer.”
My faith is that God has added parts of the
divine to our humanity. When we truly experience kindness, humbleness, the true
devotion of one human heart toward another, the awareness of the goodness
within human nature helps us to grow. It helps us to find security and
confidence in life, and help others to do the same.
What we hear from the Gospel today is Jesus’
last discourse as he contemplates his departure from this earth. Jesus is aware
that the hour has come for him to pass from this world to the realm of the
Father. He wants to show to the very end his love for his own beloved ones in
this world, describing the mystery and the reality of life, suffering, death, and
resurrection. He ascends to his Father so that God becomes the Father of all
children of God and all who believe in his name.
The portion of the Gospel we hear today does
not tells us the following event; after his words of farewell, Jesus has a meal
on the night before he dies, washing his friend’s feet, a loving act of
abasement and service. That night, Jesus issues his new commandment: “As I have
loved you, so you too must love one another.”
I believe that my Reflection can end here. The
story of Jesus’ words and actions have already reminded Les’ family of what we
would like to remember about him and his legacy in our lives, especially as
father, grandfather, great grandfather. Many will remember him for his dry
sense of humor - and miss it. He was a man of few words; when he did speak up
his words were often important or funny - or both. We will also remember Les
with great respect for the courage and strength he demonstrated as a pilot in
wartime as witnessed in his book, “Days of Laughter, Nights of Fear”.
Les led a great life - thanks be to God. Those
of us who knew him a little more deeply will remember and treasure in their
hearts his humble, egoless, pure humanity: the love that he has freely given
for his family as a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who was
never tired of going to the lake, every summer, to prepare room for family
members and guests in his cottage – his personal world – and to give the
core of himself to those whom he treasured. Now, we pray that God blesses
Les as he rests in God’s wondrous world, “In the Father’s house with many
dwelling places.” We pray that the face of the Heavens will open for him, that
his spirit rises, free, into a sky as blue as a summer lake, resting on high
with God and sending his blessing and love to those of us down here.
Amen.
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