Show Some Respect

I know I haven't posted in a couple of weeks and I've got some good reasons for that.  In addition to the extra planning to include an Ash Wednesday service, I've had an unusually high number of church members with surgeries and hospitalizations as well as two funerals to conduct.  One of those funerals was for my wife's grandmother, which was especially difficult and officially the last family funeral I perform EVER. 

I think it's safe to say I'm feeling a little burned out.  But that's not the point of this post...

In two weeks I've performed two funerals.  Between the two, I processed in three motorcades.  The first was from the funeral home chapel to the graveside and the other two were from the funeral home to the church and then to the graveside.  From time to time I see other processions of this type and I always try to stop and show my respect for the family that is mourning the loss of a loved one.  These three times, I was appalled at what I saw.

Most of the cars we encountered stopped and payed the proper respect.  Occasionally though, a car going the opposite direction would continue to roll and I feel that even at the slowest roll, you are being disrespectful.  As we followed the hearse to the church for Erin's grandmother's service, one car actually passed us on the road!  I couldn't believe it!

I was mad.  You can ask Erin - I actually came over on the guy and blew my horn to show my displeasure.  One of our police escorts gave me an approving nod later on too.

About 3 years ago, my senior pastor, a fellow associate pastor, and myself conducted a funeral service for a church member in Elijay, Georgia.  We led the service in the local funeral home chapel and then rode in the lead car with the director up the mountain to the interment.  I'll never forget the experience.  One of the escorting cops actually pulled someone over and wrote them a citation for not stopping.  When the other escort hadn't made it back in front of the lead car with the funeral home director, the director began crossing into oncoming traffic to force them to pull over.  It was amazing and hilarious!  It was also the right thing to do.

What do you do when you see a funeral motorcade coming down the road?  I hope you stop.  I hope you show some respect.  If you don't, then shame on you!  They should strap you to the top of the hearse when you die and drive you 60 miles per hour to the graveside.

I've begun stopping in the middle of my lane of traffic when I see this coming.  I do that so the people behind me are forced to stop completely, whether they want to or not.  I don't think life should ever be in such a rush that we can't afford to pause for 30 seconds out of love and concern for those who have suffered loss.  "Love your neighbor as yourself."