Reflections on Arlington

The word liturgy means "work of the people". The United Methodist Book of Worship provides liturgy to be used for baptism, communion, weddings, funerals, ordinations, and many other occasions in church life. Some people think liturgy is meaningless since it is not spontaneous but I love liturgy and use it often. Several in my first congregation questioned my use of formal liturgy since their previous pastors had criticized using any formal liturgy. Then one Sunday morning, my Lay Leader asked to address the church. She admitted being one of the chief critics of liturgy but something recently had changed her mind. Within a month's time, she had attended the funerals of two young men under the age of thirty. She knew their families well and was devastated by the loss. Her grief seemed overwhelming until she attended their funeral services. It was in the ritual of the liturgy that provided familiarity and comfort. When the words began, they were like a healing balm to her soul. Now she understood the importance of liturgy. Sometimes we do not need spontaneity - we need structure and we need tradition.

Our military understands this. On Monday, I had the rare privilege of officiating at a military interment at Arlington National Cemetery. My uncle, Robert H. Waldrup, was buried with full military honors. He had served his country with honor in the Air Force and now, with honor, he was laid to rest. The ceremony was highly structured and timed from the transfer of his casket to the securing of the casket on the caisson, to the cermonial march to the graveside and all the elements of the actual service. There was beauty in the ritual and that beauty provided a sense of awe, wonder, majesty, and healing for those who gathered to mourn his death. We, the civilians who benefit from the sacrifice made by the men and women serving in uniform, may take their sacrifice for granted but the military does not. If you want to see how seriously it is taken, see the HBO film, Taking Chance.

I now cringe when someone tells me to just stick them in the ground without service or ceremony. Surely a life well lived deserves the honor of a ritual that gives honor to their lives. The ritual gives the living permission to reflect on the life of another and in that reflection, we may receive some much needed answers for living our own lives.