On Tuesday May 6th, 2008 at 11:35am, Scott Massie left this world.
He was an inspector here at the health department and he loved his job.
The last time I saw him was at the benefit held here a few short weeks ago. His hair was gone and he was in a wheelchair, but he was still the same old Scott, asking about the geothermal program and if I had received the plans from a big job he had worked on. As his wife Paula was getting him ready to leave the office for the last time, he said in a shaky voice, "I hope you guys know how much I want to be here."

Today I had the honor of bearing his casket. And as we trudged across the cemetery lawn from the hearse to the tomb, the weight in my left hand was extreme. Even with seven grown men carrying the coffin, it was heavy. I was reminded in that moment that Scott no longer has a load to bear. All the weight of this world is gone from him. He is free.

The pastor of Calvary Baptist delivered a beautiful message of hope for all who believe. He spoke of the death of Jesus' close friend, Lazarus. When word reached Jesus that his friend had died, he went to him to the town of Bethany to comfort those who were mourning. Jesus arrived three days after Lazarus’ death and people were still weeping with Mary, his sister. Luke 11:33 says, "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35Jesus wept.

Jesus wept. The Jesus who knew that Lazarus was with his Father and that the pains of this world had left him…wept.
Was it because He was grieved at the worldly loss of his friend? I don't think so. I think it was because Jesus was moved by the love that these people had for Lazarus and for Mary. He felt their pain.
The pastor suggested that if Scott had the choice of returning to earth, he would do so only to relieve the grief of his family.

I hadn't been to a funeral in a few years.
And I see death differently now.
It's still not easy to lose someone, but "death has lost its sting."
At least for those who believe.

As we stood around the open grave, the sun began to break through the clouds. You can cast away the empty shell, ravaged and broken by sicknesses that this fallen creation succumbs to. You can bury it in a deep, dark hole and cover it with a stone.
But the beloved is not there.
They've changed their address.
Now they reside the nice part of town.

Scott is now in the place where light comes from.
And where life comes from.