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One Sentence

    

Published 2018-01-25


 One Sentence


Claire Booth Luce once said to President John F Kennedy, “A great person is one sentence, you’ve got a paragraph and that doesn’t work.” The great presidents could be described in one sentence, Lincoln: “He preserved the Union and freed the slaves,” FDR: “He lifted us out of a great depression and helped us win a world war.” “Awesome sentences,” she said, but then she asked Kennedy, “What’s your sentence?” What a great question!

When I first started doing funerals I was afraid that it would be impossible to capture up a person’s life in just a few minutes. Of course it is hard to give full due to a life which spans over 80 years. But I learned that most of the time, if I get out of the way, the spirit of the person is there at the funeral. I don’t mean in any kind of spooky way, but simply that everyone comes with a memory and listens to recognize something of the person they knew and loved. I have found my job to be simply to listen as the family and friends talk about the person and help them remember and celebrate that same person at the funeral. It is amazing to me how often a central theme arises which describes the person in just a few words. In other words, everyone has a sentence, whether we realize it or not.

What is the sentence that describes who you are? What is the sen-tence that describes who you are becoming? 50 years after you are gone how will people describe you in a few words? He was a man who… She was a woman who…If a sentence seems too steep a hill to climb I would suggest starting with just a few words. What are some words that describe your life? What are some words others would use in describing you to someone else? “Compassionate,” “stubborn,” “honest,” “funny,” “faithful,” “loving,” “hardworking?”

Peace+
Jim




Blog Archives

Blessing of the Animals 2019-10-11     Published 2019-10-11

The Cloud of Unknowing 2019-09-27     Published 2019-09-27

The Web 2019-09-20     Published 2019-09-20

Elizabeth Joy “Ellie” Gordon 2019-09-13     Published 2019-09-13

All Things New 2019-09-06     Published 2019-09-06

We Believe Take 2 2019-08-30     Published 2019-08-30

We Believe... 2019-08-23     Published 2019-08-23

August 16, 2019 2019-08-16     Published 2019-08-16

Reflections of sitting by a stream 2019-08-09     Published 2019-08-09

August 2nd 2019 2019-08-02     Published 2019-08-02

July 26th 2019 2019-07-26     Published 2019-07-26

The First Presbyterian on the Moon 2019-07-19     Published 2019-07-19

Reflection of Cynthia Bourgeault 2019-07-12     Published 2019-07-12

Pine Ridge History 2019-07-05     Published 2019-07-05

Highlands Presbyterian 2019-06-28     Published 2019-06-28

God alone is Lord of the conscience, part 2 2019-06-21     Published 2019-06-21

God alone is Lord of the conscience, part 1 2019-06-14     Published 2019-06-14

D-Day 75th Anniversary 2019-06-07     Published 2019-06-07

Rain 2019-05-31     Published 2019-05-31

It Is Time 2019-05-24     Published 2019-05-24

Seen any good movies lately? 2019-05-17     Published 2019-05-17

Prayer is... 2019-05-10     Published 2019-05-10

Where Does God Live? 2019-05-03     Published 2019-05-03

Expect Resurrection! 2019-04-25     Published 2019-04-25

Notre Dame 2019-04-18     Published 2019-04-18

Dying Before We Die (Part 2) 2019-04-11     Published 2019-04-11

The Golden Gate 2019-04-04     Published 2019-04-04

What is Lent? 2019-03-28     Published 2019-03-28

Nothing and Everything 2019-03-22     Published 2019-03-22

Saint Patrick 2019-03-14     Published 2019-03-14

Ash Wednesday 2019-03-07     Published 2019-03-07

I Love My Church 2019-02-28     Published 2019-02-28

Immaculee Ilibagiza 2019-02-21     Published 2019-02-21

I Had Forgotten 2019-02-14     Published 2019-02-14

Chagall Isaiah 2019-02-07     Published 2019-02-07

Happy Groundhog Day 2019-01-31     Published 2019-01-31

God Sightings 2019-01-24     Published 2019-01-24

Boxers for Jesus and MLK 2019-01-17     Published 2019-01-17

Peace On Earth 2019-01-10     Published 2019-01-10

New Year's Prayer 2019-01-03     Published 2019-01-03

After Christmas 2018-12-27     Published 2018-12-27

12-20-2018 2018-12-20     Published 2018-12-20

Busy Yet? 2018-12-13     Published 2018-12-13

Oh Christmas Tree! 2018-12-06     Published 2018-12-06

Happy Purple Sunday 2018-11-29     Published 2018-11-29

Happy Thanksgiving 2018-11-15     Published 2018-11-15

Help Thanks Wow 2018-11-08     Published 2018-11-08

Havdalah 2018-11-01     Published 2018-11-01

Homelessness 2018-10-25     Published 2018-10-25

Changing Leaves 2018-10-18     Published 2018-10-18

Savor The Sabbath 2018-10-11     Published 2018-10-11

World Communion Sunday 2018-10-04     Published 2018-10-04

Me Too 2018-09-27     Published 2018-09-27

100! 2018-09-20     Published 2018-09-20

From Thoughts in Solitude 2018-09-13     Published 2018-09-13

Yugen 2018-09-06     Published 2018-09-06

Mystics 2018-08-30     Published 2018-08-30

The Kids Were Amazing 2018-08-23     Published 2018-08-23

First Day 2018-08-16     Published 2018-08-16

Ask The Birds 2018-08-09     Published 2018-08-09

What Do They Really Need? 2018-07-26     Published 2018-07-26

A Moment of Grace 2018-07-19     Published 2018-07-19

Won't You Be My Neighbor 2018-07-12     Published 2018-07-12

Generosity 2018-06-28     Published 2018-06-28

Imago Dei 2018-06-21     Published 2018-06-21

A Heartfelt Thank You 2018-06-07     Published 2018-06-07

Starbucks 2018-05-31     Published 2018-05-31

Change in Worship 2018-05-24     Published 2018-05-24

Mike Dieleman, Chair of the Finance Committee 2018-05-17     Published 2018-05-17

Happy Mother's Day 2018-05-10     Published 2018-05-10

Death Cafe Goes to Sunday School 2018-05-03     Published 2018-05-03

National Pretzel Day 2018-04-26     Published 2018-04-26

Breathe In Knowing You Are Loved 2018-04-19     Published 2018-04-19

Resurrection Life 2018-04-12     Published 2018-04-12

Seeing Resurrection 2018-04-05     Published 2018-04-05

Happy Easter 2018-03-29     Published 2018-03-29

This is Palm/Passion Sunday 2018-03-22     Published 2018-03-22

Task Force Groups 2018-03-15     Published 2018-03-15

Spring Forward! 2018-03-08     Published 2018-03-08

Curling and Jesus 2018-03-02     Published 2018-03-02

I Don't Know What To Say 2018-02-23     Published 2018-02-23

Gratitude is the Heart of Prayer 2018-02-16     Published 2018-02-16

Jennifer's Departure 2018-02-01     Published 2018-02-01

Day of Service on MLK Day at LAMP 2018-01-18     Published 2018-01-18

Never Waste A Good Crisis 2018-01-11     Published 2018-01-11

New Year Resolutions 2018-01-04     Published 2018-01-04

New Year Blessings 2017-12-31     Published 2017-12-31

Merry Christmas! 2017-12-20     Published 2017-12-20

An Oxymoron 2017-12-13     Published 2017-12-13

Blue Christmas 2017-12-06     Published 2017-12-06

Purple Sunday 2017-11-30     Published 2017-11-30

A Successful Trip 2017-11-12     Published 2017-11-12

Happy Halloween 2017-10-26     Published 2017-10-26

I Am The Vine 2017-10-19     Published 2017-10-19

The Warning Signs 2017-10-05     Published 2017-10-05

Creating Quiet Space 2017-09-28     Published 2017-09-28

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Out of Chaos, Hope x2 2017-09-06     Published 2017-09-06

Out of Chaos, Hope 2017-08-31     Published 2017-08-31

A Slippery Slope 2017-08-24     Published 2017-08-24

Live In Peace 2017-08-17     Published 2017-08-17

Caring for Creation 2017-08-10     Published 2017-08-10

The Bowl 2017-08-03     Published 2017-08-03

Journey of Our Soul; May It Be Long and Winding 2017-06-22     Published 2017-06-22

Loving Day 2017-06-15     Published 2017-06-15

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The Beginning of Something Else 2017-05-18     Published 2017-05-18

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Happy Easter 2017-04-13     Published 2017-04-13

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International Day of Happiness 2017-03-23     Published 2017-03-23

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Night Prayer 2017-03-08     Published 2017-03-08

Lent 2017-03-01     Published 2017-03-01

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Happy Ground Hog Day! 2017-02-03     Published 2017-02-03

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January Retreat 2017-01-11     Published 2017-01-11

Wishing You a Very Challenging New Year 2016-12-29     Published 2016-12-29

Mary Christmas 2016-12-21     Published 2016-12-21

It's Time to Put the X back in Christmas 2016-12-14     Published 2016-12-14

First Week in Advent 2016-11-30     Published 2016-11-30

Happy Thanksgiving 2016-11-16     Published 2016-11-16

"On Election Day 1884" 2016-11-09     Published 2016-11-09

First Ever Blessing of the Animals 2016-11-02     Published 2016-11-02