Yesterday Nancy and I made the 7+ hour roundtrip to Indianapolis to attend the funeral of Jim Baize. Jim's wife was one of my last funerals before I retired. Jim was a unique guy. His storytelling style reminded me a lot of my father. And more than anything he was a good friend. He is one of the last survivors from the Iwa Jima campaign. This is my homily from the service. One thing that I shared at the graveside but not in the service is that Jim had given me some sand from Iwa Jima on one of my many visits. I saved that sand and poured it into his grave.
Eugene Peterson in his translation/interpretation of the Bible known as the message gives us this passage from the Second Letter of Timothy, the 4th Chapter, with a few minor modifications by me.
You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, (God’s) an honest judge. (God will) do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for (God’s) coming.
My name is Steven Conger, and I am a retired pastor from here at Meridian Street United Methodist Church. I am humbled that we can share in this service remembering and celebrating Jim with you. Jim loved this church, and touched many, many peoples lives. Nancy and I loved Jim and Jo, they were an important part of our lives and we are thankful that we could call both of them friends!
We grieve today at Jim’s death, but we grieve --- as people of hope.
Richard Rohr in his book, Quest for the Grail writes:
What the spiritual journey teaches us is that in the end there is only love. And the foundation of everything . . . is finally love. . . .We’re standing on love.
Jim stood on love — the love of his family and friends — the love of God.
Jim, as you have already heard, was ready. He never expected to outlive Jo. And when she died, a piece of him died.
Jim has experienced a lot of death in his life.
Jo last spring
His beloved daughters Karen & Denise
But Jim also saw too much death during World War II
As he was bringing troops ashore during the landing on Iwa Jima his landing craft was destroyed and all the troops on board were killed — except for Jim.
Jim, as you know, once he found himself ashore, joined the fight for control of the Island, getting wounded in the process. A marine by the name of Jack made Jim an honorary Marine that day.
Every time Jim told me that story you could feel the conflict in his soul. He was proud in the roll that he played in helping to end the war against fascism — but the lives lost — the brutality of it all seared a hole in him.
When sharing with our men’s group he said that it was in remembering — and telling the story that he found peace. An uneasy peace — but peace nevertheless.
I am convinced that his experience in World War II is what drove him to the high level of success that he gained.
Those lives lost in that Higgins LCVP boat #13 never left him
And they helped him to become all that he was
But another big part of his healing and success, I am certain was a divorcee that he met by the name of Lora Jo.
Together they build a life of compassion and love.
I could have easily have used the scripture that I chose for Jo’s service today — 1 Corinthians 13
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.
Can you think of better words to be said about you at your funeral?
For both Jim and Jo — those words ring true.
Paul reminds us that love is not only the greatest gift --- but it is also a gift that never ends.
Even death cannot take away the love that has influenced each of your lives.
I know that each of us here today have been blessed because our lives crossed paths with Jim’s.
A friend of mine shared this story with me years ago.
One evening during World War II a father and his young daughter were out in a part of London that they were not all that familiar with.
While they were walking — the heard the sirens begin to go off — signaling that the German planes were on their way to bomb the city.
They continued on their way — but soon added to the blare of the sirens was the report of anti-aircraft fire.
The father began to look around for a safe place for shelter — since he was unfamiliar with that part of the city.
As he could see the planes getting closer — he scrambled over to the side of a building that had been destroyed in an earlier raid.
He encouraged his daughter to jump into the basement of this bombed out building — but his daughter said — I can’t — I am afraid.
The planes were getting closer and he could see the bombs falling from the sky. So he once again begged his daughter to jump into the basement and have some protection from the coming storm.
Once again she said: I can’t — I am afraid.
The father — seeing that the bombs would soon be upon them did something that I am not sure I could do. He left his daughter on the ledge and jumped into the dark hole below.
From there he called to his daughter: Sweetheart — you must jump — the bombs are getting close.
She replied: I can’t — I am afraid — I can’t see you.
And her father said — that’s OK, I can see you.
And she jumped into the loving arms of her father.
None of us can fully SEE
Paul called in a dark mirror
But God can see us
Jim has made the leap into the loving arms of our God — and has been welcomed home.
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