The Funeral Sermon
As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a
graveside service for a derelict man who had died while traveling
through the area with no family or friends. The funeral was held way
back in the country. This man would be the first to be lay to rest at
this cemetery. As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I
became lost. Being the typical man I didn't stop for directions.But I finally arrived an hour late, I saw the crew and backhoe, but the hearse was no where in sight. The workmen were eating lunch. I apologized to the
workers for my tardiness, (who looked puzzled) I stepped to the side
of the open grave, to find the vault lid already in place. I assured
the workers I would no t hold them long, but this was the proper
thing to do.
As the workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured
out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say "Amen,
Praise the Lord and Glory, (they must have been Baptist). I preached,
and I preached, like I'd never preached before. I began from Genesis
all the way to Revelation. I preached for two hours and 45 minutes.
It was a long and lengthy service. I closed in prayer and it was
finished. As I was walking to my car, I felt that I had done my duty
and would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in
spite of my tardiness.
As I was opening the door and taking off my coat I overheard one of
the worker s saying to another, "I've been putting in septic tanks
for 20 years, and I ain't never seen anything like this before".
As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a
graveside service for a derelict man who had died while traveling
through the area with no family or friends. The funeral was held way
back in the country. This man would be the first to be lay to rest at
this cemetery. As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I
became lost. Being the typical man I didn't stop for directions.But I finally arrived an hour late, I saw the crew and backhoe, but the hearse was no where in sight. The workmen were eating lunch. I apologized to the
workers for my tardiness, (who looked puzzled) I stepped to the side
of the open grave, to find the vault lid already in place. I assured
the workers I would no t hold them long, but this was the proper
thing to do.
As the workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured
out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say "Amen,
Praise the Lord and Glory, (they must have been Baptist). I preached,
and I preached, like I'd never preached before. I began from Genesis
all the way to Revelation. I preached for two hours and 45 minutes.
It was a long and lengthy service. I closed in prayer and it was
finished. As I was walking to my car, I felt that I had done my duty
and would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in
spite of my tardiness.
As I was opening the door and taking off my coat I overheard one of
the worker s saying to another, "I've been putting in septic tanks
for 20 years, and I ain't never seen anything like this before".
