Curtis
was home.
He
was resting in his church where he would remain overnight. His funeral would be the next morning and his
burial that afternoon. But for now, he
rested.
The
family had some time alone with him inside the church and then the public was
invited to join them. We stood, as we
do.
Most
guests study us from afar and then keep their eyes forward as the walk past
us. We know why they are here and they
know why we are here – there is really nothing to be said. Sometimes they offer thanks as they pass by.
And
some folks make a point of engaging us.
And
that’s okay too.
A
tall, thin father of two walked down our line.
He didn’t shake hands, nor even talk – he just wanted to feel our
presence and he wanted his 6-year old boy and 5-year old girl to feel it
too. The three of them walked slowly and
wordlessly past each of us. The father
wanted his little ‘uns to understand something that was hard to explain.
James
stopped them and presented the two children with Mission Accomplished tags.
I
like to think it made Curtis smile.
Friday:
Arrival at
Flagline portraits
Visitation at Bethel
Lutheran Church
Saturday:
Funeral at
Flagline portraits
Cemetery at
back
to Swenson Mission
back
to ALL MISSIONS