One Last Voyage December 2, 2010
This afternoon we conducted two burials at sea. It was a somber ceremony as the entire crew mustered on the flight deck. The waves rocked the boat back and forth and we had to balance carefully to ensure that we did not topple over each other. We had brought the two veteran Coasties to their final resting place on this earth. They had made their final voyage across the high seas of the Pacific Ocean. Yet the way they lived or who they lived for has already determined where their final voyage shall end and where they shall spend the rest of eternity.
We were dressed out in our Tropical Blue Uniforms. The gray sky appeared sorrowful and sad, matching the appearance of the one family member present for the burials. The other family could not attend. I do not know what relation the man had to the deceased but his eyes held a deep sorrow. The ceremony commenced with the procession of flag bearers coming out. After Scripture reading, a prayer and a ten gun salute, the flag bearers presented the flags. Then it ended with the playing of Taps. The whole affair was quite sad and reflective upon the subject we rarely ever think upon---death.
It makes me think though, how sad and sorrowful and hopeless death is without Jesus Christ. Those who live apart from Him only have this life to look forward to, but what a living hope I have in Jesus. The grave is not a place of darkness and gloom for the Believer but a place of new life because those who die in Jesus shall also live in Him and rise again. What great good news we have in Christ!!! For Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life!”
This afternoon we conducted two burials at sea. It was a somber ceremony as the entire crew mustered on the flight deck. The waves rocked the boat back and forth and we had to balance carefully to ensure that we did not topple over each other. We had brought the two veteran Coasties to their final resting place on this earth. They had made their final voyage across the high seas of the Pacific Ocean. Yet the way they lived or who they lived for has already determined where their final voyage shall end and where they shall spend the rest of eternity.
We were dressed out in our Tropical Blue Uniforms. The gray sky appeared sorrowful and sad, matching the appearance of the one family member present for the burials. The other family could not attend. I do not know what relation the man had to the deceased but his eyes held a deep sorrow. The ceremony commenced with the procession of flag bearers coming out. After Scripture reading, a prayer and a ten gun salute, the flag bearers presented the flags. Then it ended with the playing of Taps. The whole affair was quite sad and reflective upon the subject we rarely ever think upon---death.
It makes me think though, how sad and sorrowful and hopeless death is without Jesus Christ. Those who live apart from Him only have this life to look forward to, but what a living hope I have in Jesus. The grave is not a place of darkness and gloom for the Believer but a place of new life because those who die in Jesus shall also live in Him and rise again. What great good news we have in Christ!!! For Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life!”
Thanks for sharing that, Sara. I hope 2011 is a wonderful year for you. :)
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