Aunt Beth’s Celebration of Life was Sunday. She would have loved it.
My contribution was picture memory boards, so I took her photo albums home and spent the last week combing through them, scanning, tweaking, printing, pasting. I am always happiest when I have a creative project.
Aunt Beth was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Illinois Poetry Society, and the American Humanist Association. All three groups were represented on Sunday.
The “celebrant” was a friend from the AHA. He told us that their motto is, “Good, without God.” I found that interesting. They are not saying there is no God, they are saying they will get along just fine without Him.
Many people confuse religion with God
and walk away from them both.
Rob Bell
He told us that Aunt Beth didn’t like that motto, though. She thought it should be, “Good, for goodness’ sake.” But, in honoring “goodness,” was Aunt Beth really honoring God?
God is not merely good, but goodness;
goodness is not merely divine, but God.
C. S. Lewis
The Bible records this interaction.
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem,
a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked,
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.
Mark 10:17-18 NLT.
God’s goodness is the root of all goodness;
and our goodness, if we have any,
springs out of His goodness.
William Tyndale
We know that “pagans” may, in their actions, be godlier than “believers.” God sees and honors that. Aunt Beth’s actions were more God-like than her beliefs would have led me to expect.
Your beliefs don’t make you a better person.
Your behavior does.
Unknown
Aunt Beth told me that she was “a seeker.” I know without a shadow of a doubt that she has finally found what she has been looking and longing for.
Rest at peace, Aunt Beth. Until we meet again.