"Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed."
The 4th and 5th verses of that great Christian hymn, “For All the Saints” resound these words:
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I think about a year and how fast it has gone. I remember William Andrew Hilleke, my brother-in-law and friend. I took the above photos on one of my photo-taking rampages in June of 2006 when the Jim Hilleke family was vacationing at Roseland. This photo was taken just as Thomas, Emily, the kids, and Sarah were heading back to Monroe. I stayed for a few hours more and got to photograph the property with Andrew and Mr. Jim. Some of the best photos I took of Andrew were taken when he didn’t know I was shooting him. Often, if he knew, he would give me that “Andrew Smile/Snarl.” Of course we all miss Andrew. The thing is, it is still hard to believe that he is not here with us. It is a hard concept when I think about it. Often, I think, “What happened?” even though I know all the events and happenings of early 2007.
I am comforted by this hymn that was sung at his funeral. N.T. Wright says that it is the best hymn for Christians to sing at funerals. It puts our hope in the best biblical and Christian perspective.
Until that “yet more glorious day” when “the saints triumphant [will] rise” we are left to think about our good memories and reminisce through our photos and videos.
O Eternal Lord God, who holdest all souls in life; Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served thee here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.