Dear Church Family,
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This morning we laid to rest the remains of Virginia Hawkins. A couple of family members who were connected to other family members via their cell phone and a few congregants who were very close to her were present. Virginia blessed our ministry with her enthusiastic support and affirmation of our worship and community experiences. She told me once that she resonated with Truth messages that we taught in a way that no other church had offered. She also loved to be a part of our fellowship and celebrations that brought her much joy.
Creativity was important to Virginia. Many of us know that she was an actress and was blessed with an ongoing role on the TV series "Dynasty" where she played the role of a maid, Jeanette Robbins. In my message this morning I commented on her appreciation of creativity and she lived her life affirming the creative spark and expression that others produced.
She might have described her final years as challenging. We all have times of challenge - it's a part of being human. She continued to allow herself to grow in many areas, while holding on to some of the limitations that she accepted. We all experience that - facing a challenge, but holding on to some of the blocks that keep us from fully experiencing the magnificence of God. In fact, we create stories around our blocks that support their existence. In the end she was accepting of the diagnosis and prognosis given...she experienced peace. I didn't have a chance to process any of this with her, but from what I know about Virginia, she held on to her belief in Truth. That we are eternal spirits - and while we someday give up this vessel called a human body - we continue on in our journey.
After I spoke today, a manager from the mortuary spoke - he might be a pastor, too, because he pastored to all of us today. He reminded us about the 3 most important words in the English language - "I LOVE YOU." He encourages us to say those words each day - as often as we can, because we can - I LOVE YOU. He had us shout the words as loud as we could...and I heard Virginia's family shouting through their phones, "I LOVE YOU!"
Virginia was a vessel of love in her human existence and continues to be a force of love in her ongoing spiritual presence. And today, I am reminded about this Truth that lives in her spirit and in the lives and spirit of each of you! You are a vessel of love! One way to affirm this is to say "I LOVE YOU!" as often and to as many people (and animals) you can. Yet another way to heal the world.
Many Blessings,
Pastor Robert