Today I attended the grave-side service of a friend.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was smiling down on the service, as if waiting to welcome him to heaven. With the absence of the wind, peace settled over the hills and valleys.  Sparse clouds lingered over head as if waiting for a friend to come home.  The manicured cool green grass rested lazily inside the wrought iron fence encircling the cemetery.

On top of the hill, rows of square stones stood tall, overlooking the valley.  The surrounding hills protected the quiet resting place of souls gone before. The stoical stones looked out over the hill, standing guard over their trust given them to protect.  A blue casket sat in place above the cemetery plot, the hole dug and waiting for its contents to be delivered.

The mourners gathered around the casket, closest family members sat in front in chairs.  Other members stood behind them while friends stood in back.  I stood with friends to the back.

It was a beautiful service.  The pastor offered his words and his heart as he sadly said good-bye to his good friend and Christian brother.

I stood in the back listening.  The service was almost over.  Roses were passed out to place on the casket.  I took one.  As I stood waiting, I started getting light headed and dizzy.  I tried to shake it off, ignore it.  I knew I struggled with heat, but it wasn’t that hot.  During the next few minutes, I had a  hard time keeping my balance.  Then down I went.  My legs buckled under me and I fell.  I don’t think I passed out.  I felt like I knew what was going on the whole time, but was to dizzy and light headed to stop it or to stand up.  I knew it was caused by the heat…or so I thought.  I would be better in a bit.

People around me came running to help me.  “Are you okay?  Can I help you up?  Just sit for a bit, that might help,” came many voices.

Everyone seemed worried and I was embarrassed.  So I decided to stand and show them I was okay.  When I stood, I was still woozy and light headed, but not as bad.  I stood for a few minutes, for the rest of the service.

Then I opened my eyes and there was a circle of people surrounding me, bent over looking down at me.  I saw a circle of heads as I looked straight up into the sky.  There was concern in their eyes.  It took me a minute to realize what was going on.  I was laying on the ground.  I had passed out.  But this time, I didn’t remember anything.  This time, I didn’t even know I went down.   I just woke up on the ground.  Again came the barrage of concern.  “Do you need water?  Are you okay?  Let’s get her into the shade.  She needs a chair.”

The concerned loving people around me, helped me up, got a chair for me, took my arms and led me to the shade.  Receiving a cold bottle of water, I sat for a few minutes and drank about half of it.  One lady who was a nurse even took my blood pressure.  I was embarrassed.  Me passing out, of all people, and at a grave-side service, of all places…I hated being the center of attention and I felt bad because I knew I ruined the grave-side service of a friend.

By now, it was time to go to the funeral service at the church, but I was not allowed to drive.  I was helped into a car and a sweet couple drove me to the hospital while someone else drove my car home.  I don’t even know who drove it home.

I called my husband at work and let him know what happened.  He came directly from work to the emergency room and met me as I was being wheeled back to the examining room.  When I got to my room, the activity started.  I was questioned and examined, poked and prodded, x-rayed and CAT scanned.  I’m not sure how many tests they ran on me.  But there were a lot.

After over four hours in the examining room, and a few thousand dollars worth of tests, the doctor came and talked to my husband and me.  “I cannot find anything wrong with you.  We’ve run all kinds of tests for strokes, heart problems and other issues.  I think you just fainted.  It was probably the heat and standing for a while which caused low blood pressure.  Go home and get some rest over the next twenty-fours and follow up with your doctor on Monday.”

I followed orders.  I rested the next day, and on Monday, I followed up with the doctor.  She ran a few more tests, and things checked out fine.  I am in good health.

But, what if things had turned out different?  What if instead of fainting, it had been a stroke, or a heart attack?  What if I did not wake up, if I died?  What if when I opened my eyes, I was staring into eternity?  Would Christ have been standing by my side, or Satan?

Would I have been ready to meet my Creator?  Was my heart right with my Savior Jesus Christ?  If my soul had left this world, where would I have spent eternity?

What about you?  No one knows the future.  If your time was up right now, in an instant, are you ready die?    You may or may not have a long time on this earth.  We are here for only a few short hours.  We, ourselves, determine where we  will spend eternity by our choice to accept Christ or reject Him.  (If you don’t accept Him, you reject Him.)  Have you made that decision?  It’s the most important thing you will ever do in your life.  It’s simple, but will determine your eternal future.  “Forgive me Lord, I’m a sinner.  Yes I believe in you, please come into my life.”

By Marsha Hood

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16