Queen Stella I

Tuesday Sept 20, 2022

Yesterday was Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Friday was the service for Stella Adkins. I did not speak at Elizabeth's funeral, but I did speak at Stella's, and since I did I would like to share what I said.

The contrast between these two services could not be greater. Elizabeth's went on for 10 days. There was a 96 gun salute, carriages, horses, sailors hefting her coffin to cathedrals and abbeys. Big fancy hats. So. Many. Jewels. Her crown alone weighs something like 5 pounds.

Stella's funeral lasted about 40 minutes. Her ashes were buried along with the cremains of her husband Allen, and their son Keith, in a box another son made 50 years ago in an 8th grade shop class. The hole was 24" by 12" but had to be widened last minute with a sharpshooter because we didn't account for handles. We stood under trees next that hole in the ground, and prayed.

I wondered aloud whether the pomp and pageantry of the 10-day funeral event wasn't too much, like someone over emphasizing a point because they know it's weak. At the end, what matters most?

The apostle Paul describes his life's work like this: a treasure inside a plain old earthenware pot. The pot is not much to look at, common, ordinary, probably chipped or cracked. But inside, a priceless treasure. If the pot cracks, breaks -- all the better to see the treasure.

And this was Stella's gift to us. She spent her time, her life, on what matters: faithful to her husband, caring for family, and building lasting friendships. She didn't do it by being perfect; her gift was that she didn't waste her time covering up the chips and cracks with pretense and ceremony. She, like Paul, focused on the treasure, on what mattered most.

And that's why Stella is a true Queen. All hail Queen Stella!

Pastor Eddy