Courage
whispered the autumn leaf
He,
born of spring’s budding hope
commissioned for summer’s verdancy
yet most glorious in decline
Courage
urged the autumn leaf
As he,
in trust and gratitude
released his hold once, and for all
surrendered into the wind
and fell
(From the Orthodox Church Funeral Service):
“The event of death is probably the greatest spiritual, intellectual, and emotional challenge which a person must face in his earthly existence. But the Christian should be prepared to face all the events of life with unflinching courage. These inescapably include the sorrowful reality of death.”
