
Decoration Day
Also called "Memorial Day," but not the federal holiday. And it has nothing to do with celebrating Confederate heritage, as some maintain. Maybe it did once, I don't know. Doesn't now.
The individual churches choose a Sunday, usually in the Spring, to memorialize those in the congregation who have "passed" in the past year (aka kicked the bucket, bought the farm, up and died). And to decorate the graves in the church cemetery with fake flowers. Ours is the third Sunday in May.
Often they host a speaker who has a family connection to the church, but is not a member of the congregation. Not always, though. My first year here, about 9 years ago, they asked me to speak. They have not requested a repeat performance. I wouldn't read too much into that. After all, they asked me to be choir director. And I suck at that job.
Back in that day I wrote a song that dealt with this day. It was called "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John," and it goes like this:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Sometimes I don't know what page we're on
My mind wanders as God's holy word
Rolls like thunder or sings like a bird
The preacher's voice fills the room
Like a tapestry rolling off of a loom
I stare at the portrait of Jesus in prayer
As stained glass colors fill the air
I stand and sit as the hymns come and go
My voice as soft as down falling snow
And when we bow our heads in prayer
I close my eyes and imagine you there
Everyone said that you had gone home
But my heart went with you, down in the loam
Days into weeks, months into years
I drifted away on infinite tears
Wonder of wonders when once I did pray
Down on my knees one Memorial Day
I stood and walked back to the pew
And the place that ever reminds me of you
Your grace was His, and His never ends
To these clouded eyes, an immaculate lens
And though chapter and verse may fly off like a dove
The Word I can see and again know your love
So it's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Sometimes I don't know what page we're on
But these four friends, so wise and so true
Make me believe I'll come back to you
Yes it's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Sometimes I don't know what page we're on
But these four friends, so wise and so true
Make me believe I'll come back to you
Yes they make me believe I'll come back to you