be-musings

To me, Larry's concerts were always fabulous and moving. His funeral was no less so. That's a weird thing to say about a funeral, because there is so much sadness and longing to have one last time with the person, preferably when they were well. Often people ask funeral attenders "how was it" as they wince at the words because they don't know what else to say. My answer: "amazing".

Larry was ready to go home. His life, greatly used by God, was also fraught with pain and human sorrow. He deeply loved and in some cases deeply lost. He was loved by many and shunned by many others. His years of pain and lingering death from heart problems were close to being over early last week. We heard stories of his violent physical reactions in the last remaining days, and stories of his kindness throughout.

Larry was an idea man and director. He left the family notes of what he would like done at his funeral, which they executed well for him. It was like being at one of his concerts. We saw pictures of him as a baby, boy, man, performer. It was punctuated with his music, which we knew by heart. Over 2 hours of music, stories, pictures. Not one moment of it boring. We laughed, and cried and remembered a life that was full to capacity. Near the end we even did karaoke of one of the songs, as we stood and smiled and clapped to the music. Then, the song "Goodbye" was played to end the day. As Scott said later, they got us laughing and then smacked us in the forehead. The service was all it should be, I thought. I felt that I had experienced Larry's ministry and his concert once again.

Larry knew people would be sad at his passing, because they will miss him. He wanted them to know that he was looking forward to being with God and curious about the journey home. He couldn't erase their sorrow, but he could reassure them and encourage one last celebration.

Thanks Larry for the gig. Thanks to the family for sharing his life with us.

Larry, enjoy the field of flowers as you run to the Father ... Home at last.