Mourning at a distance

Today is the funeral of Jelles old grandma. She died at the age of 92 and was married for 68 years. Grandpa and grandma knew each other for 80 years.

Jelle travelled back to the Netherlands. We stayed here at home.

Last saturday when the sun was setting down, we were sitting outside on the balcony enjoying each others company. We were happy to be together again. Jelle had been away for a couple of days to the Roma conference. And because of his return I made him his favorite Dutch appeltaart, omaś recipe. While drinking the apple juice Jelles mother loved to serve. We did not know that this was omas final day in this world.

Jelle told us the story how they went to visit grandpa en grandma, when he was a little boy. How they went by train, because they did not have a car. And when they arrived there was this lovely smell coming from the kitchen because oma had made: Dutch applecake.

The funny thing is that it looks like we all had it organized. But that was not the case. It all happened and came together. We just sitting there in the late september sun, outside in our garden, drinking omas juice and eating grand-omaś appelcake. Later that day we received the news that grandma is not living in this world anymore.

We read that day a quote from Simone Weil a French christian and philosopher. She says: Two prisoners during the second world war were having a room next to each other. They communicated by knocking on the wall in certain ways. The wall made distance. But the wall was also their connection. So is it between God and us. Every separation is also a connection.

It is strange to mourn at distance. We have to find our way in it. Just imagine their house now only with grandpa and her empty chair. Without another goodbye or family gatherings or funeral. But with the comforting word of God, who has been our Dwelling place, through all generations.

Before the mountains were born, You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting, to everlasting you are God.

Is it not amazing to find these ancient words of ps.90, comforting our hearts, where time and place are not important anymore.