In memory of Andrew Ryan Schomaker

(February 1, 1992 – March 15, 2013)

Isaiah 55: 6-13

Revelation 21: 1-7

John 14: 1-7

 

                Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

                Although received as an adult member here at St. Luke’s, Andrew never participated in confirmation class.  So I thought I’d share some of the songs we use when we act out the funeral services for Bert and Ernie to better understand the concepts of death and resurrection in the Third Article of the Apostles Creed.  Plus, I thought Andrew might appreciate something from Eric Clapton, that masterful guitarist, who wrote the song, Tears in Heaven, when his four year old son, Conor, died after falling out of a 53^rd story window.  What strikes me so much about the song’s expression of grief, beyond the fact that it proclaims the promise of the 21^st chapter of the book of Revelation that there will be no more tears in heaven, is that, despite his overwhelming desire to be with his son, he strongly asserts that he does not belong in heaven.   I don’t believe that is based on not feeling worthy of heaven but that, while we believe that heaven is a place of peace and rest in God’s glory for those who die, it does not demean nor diminish the value of the gift of life that God grants us now.  He affirms the worth of each individual’s life now.

                Imagine the strength of conviction in the meaning and value of life to be able to commend your infant son to heaven’s glory, but to know that your place is still here – that there is more for you to do, that God still has a plan and purpose for your life.

                I know that for many people life is not easy, nor always enjoyable, nor ever understandable.  This may be as true for you as it was for Andrew and for so many people of Andrew’s age.  No longer a child, but not yet fully an adult; no longer just living life, but looking for meaning and purpose in life; no longer being led by others, but making your own choices and decisions for your future.

                It’s a natural process of maturation, of growing up.  It’s something we all struggle through.  And it’s best to do that with the support of family, friends, and faith.

                What does not belong in this natural process?  The abuse of drugs and alcohol.  They offer only an escape – not a solution.  They offer only an illusion – not a dealing with reality.  And we are gathered here today because they lead to death and not to life.  Voiced quite deliberately by Andrew’s grandmother and felt, I’m certain, by every family member is that Andrew’s death might have some good purpose to it if it serves as a wake up call to all his friends.  If you’re hooked on drugs – get help now.  If you’re not on drugs – don’t do it, ever.  And if you know someone who is on drugs, get them help even if they don’t ask for it.  There are no answers in drugs, only dead ends.

                Dead ends.  Wait, Clapton sings, “Beyond the door there’s peace I’m sure and I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.”

                Today is not just a “scared straight” warning.  It’s also a hopeful celebration.  For none of life’s frustrations or temptations, not even disease or death, can destroy the promise of life that comes from a God of love and forgiveness, a God of mercy and grace, a God who gave His own Son to experience and to conquer every human temptation and sin, by whose death on a cross and Easter resurrection wins the victory of everlasting life.

                Looking for answers?  Looking for meaning and purpose in your life?  Jesus said, “I AM the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.”  Andrew was baptized into that faith and God’s promise can never be taken away from him by anyone or anything.  Some of you became a family for him at home, some at school, some at Senior High Camp, to help him always remember God’s promise.  At camp Andrew was a Counselor in Training, a CiT, and I thought I could do something with Andrew being a Child of God, a CoG, but I couldn’t get it to work well. 

That banner over the entryway to church indicates the involvement of our parish in a program called “cherish our children.”  Adults are assigned the names of all the baptized children of the parish and all the Sunday School children up to the age of 21 to hold up regularly in prayer.  Andrew was on my prayer list.  He was, and still is, a child I cherish.  I wish I could have done more than my prayers.  Perhaps many of you are thinking “I should have done more.”  I suppose there will always be more that we could have done, but we can only turn that over to God in confession and in the knowledge of our forgiveness.  But I know my prayers for Andrew were heard by God and answered; not in the way I would have preferred, but in the wisdom of Almighty God.  God’s divine purpose will be accomplished in Andrew’s life and in his death.

And today, despite grief and guilt, we celebrate that Andrew is a child of God, that he will leave a lasting impression on our lives, and that he has been carried on angel wings to heavenly peace and rest where there will be no more tears.  AMEN

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord unto life everlasting.  AMEN.

Rev. James H. Slater

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church – Valatie

March 21, 2013