Monday, November 2, 2020
Yesterday due to the coronavirus pandemic the memorial service for Ed Simone was limited to the immediate family and a few friends. Those of you who at Old First Church in 1984 will remember when Lisa Jacques married Ed Simone. Ed died from cancer on October 25 after a long struggle.
We celebrated not only Ed’s life but the love that Ed and Lisa had for each other. We usually don’t tell love stories at memorial services, but the love that Ed and Lisa shared was a very special love. First, you need to know that they were musicians. Musicians have a funny idea about love, to start with, but that’s okay.
They met in high school at a musical event but didn’t really get together until after college. He came to her home one day and entered playing “In the Mood” on his sax. How could you beat that? As you think about life and death in these times, think about love as well.
Prayer for the Day
We want to stay death, O Lord, even when we know it is not possible,
We want to be released from the pain of grief and sorrow;
We can still hear the voices of those whom we loved,
And we come to you, Lord of life, for solace and healing.
Be with us now as you have always been
And embrace those we loved into your eternity.
In the name of him who embraces us all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher, 6th–5th century BCE
No one has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.
Zelda Fitzgerald, American novelist (1900–1948)
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arms,
For love is as strong as death, passion fierce as the grave,
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
If one offered all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.
Song of Songs 8:6–7