Church

I’ve come to cherish my Saturday mornings.  My day begins waking up to a snooze-less morning,  brewing myself a hot cup of coffee, snuggling back into the sofa, and looking forward to a morning of TV.  Ah, yes Lord, this is how I choose to spend my morning Sabbath – I will catch up on chores after catchin up on "The Soup", "New Girl", "E! News", the "Kardashians" - I have until noon, maybe 1pm. Hope that’s all-right cuz I’ve been doing that for the past 7 years. 
 

Whitney Houston’s funeral service appeared as I clicked the remote.   I first knew of a diva showdown when I heard Prince of Egypt's, “There can be Miracles”.   My allegiance was to Mariah.  Nevertheless, I am a sucker for celebrity gossip and coverage, so the channel stayed on the service.  Little did I expect to be weeping into my coffee.   I said it once, but I gotta say it again – Black people know how to do CHURCH!                

I don’t remember the exact words, but I was reminded of the time a friend told me how they felt more blessed at funerals than they did at weddings.    It’s not a new concept that funerals bring to your very attention what you always knew: your time here is finite.  I guess we need the reminders once in a while.  So, I guess I considered Whitney’s service as my attendance at a funeral.

Reverend Donny McClurklan sang a song, “Stand”.  I felt the pain in his voice as he sang, “you pray, you cry, pray, cry…after you’ve done all you can do…you just stand; The Lord will pull you through”.   I may not deal with the fame and depression that may come with her life, but I connected with the lyrics.  It was nice to have a song embrace the reality and struggle that is our earthly life.  Whoo~ take me to church, Donny!

Tyler Perry remembered two constants through his encounters with Whitney: grace and her love for the Lord.  Kevin Costner remembered their common bond of church upbringing.  Bebe Winans remembered her craziness and giving heart.  All these wonderful qualities in a woman whom we come to know as the drug-abusing, spoiled celebrity poster-child for “Crack is Whack” – but MAN, could she sing.

Few thoughts ran through my head as each musical guest and celebrity paid their impressive respects and anecdotes of their time with her and how much of an impact she had on their lives. 

1.  As much as I do want to be remembered for my fame and beauty - soon, my friends…soon – I want God’s presence to be vividly remembered in my life.  I want to be remembered that I had a relationship with my Father in the midst of my tears, struggles, growths, and joys.  God was in my life the whole time.  I laughed and cried with Him.  I tried to understand life with Him.
2. Funerals remind me that I should say what it is that gets stirred up in my heart.  Whether it be a rebuke/praise, don’t hold it in.  Be truthful.  Let the pride go.  That counts for faith too, it’s never too late. 
3. Embrace the struggle.  Life is about pain and crying as well as the joys and fun.
4. "The mob is fickle" (Lucilla, Gladiator)  I worry all the time of what others think of me, but I am reminded of how fickle we can be as critics.  Dependency and validity through the eyes of others is not worth the effort.
5. Don't box yourself into what you know to be "church".  I don't know if Whitney is in heaven or not.  I don't know if Michael went, but they might have.  I have my own convictions, but I gotta say, I don't know.  I know we limit ourselves, and may dig ourselves a hole if we only depend on the "what it should look like"s of Christianity.

I know this contradicts #2, but I most likely won’t get all “Hallelujer” up at church.  My Korean Presbyterian background will keep me at the mild clapping and subtle hand raisin’ at best.  But I was pleasantly surprised and blessed to have had “church” witnessing this woman’s funeral service – convictions, re-evaluations, and all.