The Journey Home

I just finished a funeral for a wonderful lady and friend. She had been fighting cancer and finally her body could fight no longer. In Lord of the Rings there is a scene where one of the 9 members of the fellowship of the ring dies. They put Borimir in a little boat and send him drifting down stream. In some ways I feel like that although I feel like we put someone in the water drifting toward the other shore. When they get there they bound out of the boat full of life and love into a country we only see in our very best dreams. That is the way I was feeling about Lee when I went to my office to check my email right after the funeral service. One of the emails informed me that my friend Phil Allen had passed away in his sleep the night before. Phil was not battling cancer or anything else it seemed so it was a shock. Five weeks ago he had buried Euretta, his beloved wife. He had nursed and served her through her battle with cancer until her body finally gave up. So, five weeks before he had placed her in the little boat heading for the other shore. I have seen Phil several times in weeks since. He has had a longing in his eyes. It was a longing not for what had been but a longing for what was coming. He didn't so much want Euretta back with him as he wanted to go to where she was. Some will say he died of a broken heart. I think not. I think he died because of this longing to go home. And last Saturday morning, in his sleep, he crawled into a boat and woke up on the distant shore. I can hear Phil's laugh and see his eyes dancing as he tries to take it all in. In a week, I have seen two friends head across to the place my soul longs for. It has increased my longing. Some day I will make the voyage and when I do please know it is a journey that will take me home. I wasn't made for this side of the shore and neither were you. When I read the email about Phil, I said aloud,"Good for you Phil. Now, you are home." While I miss them I am glad my friends are finally home.