The Home Funeral
by Kenneth Chafin
Dr. Kenneth Chafin is alive and well having recently moved to Houston. Before retirement he had taught evangelism and preaching at Southwestern and then at Southern Baptist seminaries. He has been pastor of South Main Baptist Church in Houston and of Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville.
A single note signaled the beginning.
A mixed quartet sang softly, slowly.
Tempted and tried we`re ofi made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long.
A tiny hand-made casket rested
between kitchen chairs on the porch.
Fruit jars of flowers scented the air.
While there are others living about us
never molested though in the wrong.
The family sat behind the small casket,
others stood in the yard, ignoring the rain,
trying to make sense of a child slain by
a stray bullet while jumping rope in her yard.
Farther along, we`ll know all about it.
Farther along, we`ll understand why
The preacher read a New Testament text
filled with comfort and the hope of heaven.
Then delivered an Old Testament message
in a holy whine, "This is God`s good will."
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine
We`ll understand it all by and by
The people shook their heads and
the mother sobbed softly at the thought
of leaving her child in the cold damp earth.
The father sat stone faced and hated God.
Farther along, we`ll know all about it, Farther along, we`ll understand why.
