The Booby Question
Later today, I will speak at the funeral service for an elderly member of the church who died suddenly last weekend. Since she was the only member of her family who belonged to the congregation I serve, her daughter decided to have her own pastor and church handle the service. I'll just say a few words on behalf of Good Shepherd during the sharing time.
One of the things I LOVE to do at funerals is get people laughing. There is something truly healing about a well told story, with a well understood twist, which highlights a quirky part of the deceased's personality. Members at Good Shepherd know this about me, expect it, and look forward to it (I think). But since I'm not on my home turf today, here is a story I will NOT tell at the service for Jan Crusoe:
Just after I began my tenure at Good Shepherd, one of the saints of the church took me around to meet the folks on the "shut in" list. He planned for us to have only a quick visit - just a few minutes to introduce me. Soon after that, I scheduled additional visits so I could really get to know these folks. One of my first visits was with Jan. I was thrilled to learn that she was talkative and articulate. She had graduated from Michigan State University at a time when she was one of a small number of women on the campus. She was also an animal lover. She explained to me that she had joined a wildlife preservation organization (I think it was the World Wildlife Fund) and that in return for her membership gift, they sent her a small stuffed creature that represented an endangered animal. She pointed out to me several of these on her shelf. Then she asked a question that has burned in my brain ever since:
"You wanna see my booby?"
I'm not sure what it looks like when a new pastor, who is just getting to know his parishioner, is utterly and completely shocked, surprised, flummoxed and mortified - but that's the look I had on my face. Jan cackled uncontrollably, reached beside her chair, and pulled out ... another small stuffed animal - a bird - the Blue-Footed Booby - a tropical and sub-tropical sea bird which lives near the Pacific Ocean.
"Isn't he cute? He just came in the mail."
I'm sure it took most of the day for my blood pressure and pulse to return to normal. Over the two years I've been at Good Shepherd, Jan continued to enjoy yanking my chain. But nothing was ever quite as effective as the 'booby question.'
We'll miss you, Jan. Rest in peace.
One of the things I LOVE to do at funerals is get people laughing. There is something truly healing about a well told story, with a well understood twist, which highlights a quirky part of the deceased's personality. Members at Good Shepherd know this about me, expect it, and look forward to it (I think). But since I'm not on my home turf today, here is a story I will NOT tell at the service for Jan Crusoe:
Just after I began my tenure at Good Shepherd, one of the saints of the church took me around to meet the folks on the "shut in" list. He planned for us to have only a quick visit - just a few minutes to introduce me. Soon after that, I scheduled additional visits so I could really get to know these folks. One of my first visits was with Jan. I was thrilled to learn that she was talkative and articulate. She had graduated from Michigan State University at a time when she was one of a small number of women on the campus. She was also an animal lover. She explained to me that she had joined a wildlife preservation organization (I think it was the World Wildlife Fund) and that in return for her membership gift, they sent her a small stuffed creature that represented an endangered animal. She pointed out to me several of these on her shelf. Then she asked a question that has burned in my brain ever since:
"You wanna see my booby?"
I'm not sure what it looks like when a new pastor, who is just getting to know his parishioner, is utterly and completely shocked, surprised, flummoxed and mortified - but that's the look I had on my face. Jan cackled uncontrollably, reached beside her chair, and pulled out ... another small stuffed animal - a bird - the Blue-Footed Booby - a tropical and sub-tropical sea bird which lives near the Pacific Ocean.
"Isn't he cute? He just came in the mail."
I'm sure it took most of the day for my blood pressure and pulse to return to normal. Over the two years I've been at Good Shepherd, Jan continued to enjoy yanking my chain. But nothing was ever quite as effective as the 'booby question.'
We'll miss you, Jan. Rest in peace.
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