Chapter 6
He awoke in the morning and looked at the clock nervously, remembering
the time that Jeffrey had appeared in his office, and realized that his
daughter's funeral was scheduled for just about that time. It
would be extremely awkward if they were to disappear in the middle of
the services! The General quickly called the base pastor.
"Arthur," he explained, "something has arisen. We must bring my
daughter's funeral forward, as I will have to leave on a mission before
the services are concluded, and I want to be there."
The pastor hesitated a moment and then answered "Of course, General, I
understand, the war and all. I will contact the radio station
immediately and have them announce that the services have been brought
forward. It would be nice if war would wait and let such things
be concluded in peace. But of course war is never that obliging."
"No," the General agreed, "it never is! Thank you!"
He showered and got dressed. The family made their way to the
funeral parlor and everybody came in, taking their places. The
stately old pastor entered and looked about him.
"We are here," he began, "to mourn the loss of a beloved daughter and a
devoted son, whose kindness and devotion to those they loved is beyond
measure.. The tragedy of their loss effects us deeply. Our hearts
are torn by our separation from them, and we ask God why, how could
this have happened? How could men so hate that they could destroy
two fine young people because of their ignorance? Some will say
these young peoples' lives were wasted, but a wiser man than I has
written these words in the midst of a similar situation, and I want to
share them with you. 'The tragedy of a child lost young in life
is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies that we can endure. Some
will say this child's potential is lost, it never accomplished
anything. It's journey through this world was fruitless. But I
say to you, no, nay, never!
The potential of no child is ever lost. Every child fulfills its
destiny, even though it may touch those around it for a few hours, or
even a few minutes, that child has, for a time, brought love into the
world. It was loved, and it gave love, and that love helped to
sustain the world. Man, in their ignorance, may have cut short
these young lives, they may have journeyed home long before they
should've had, but their potential, their joy has not been lost.
We gave unto them, and they gave unto us. They were part of our
hopes, they were part of our dreams. They were part of our
destiny, and no one, NOTHING can take that away from us. Those
among us who have survived will always carry the joy with us that they
have given us, no matter how much the Darkness tries to destroy it, no
matter how much the foul creatures of the night try to break our will
and destroy our hopes, they will never take what these children have
given us away from us! They will never, EVER succeed, no matter
how much they try to beat us, no matter how much they try to break our
joy, to break our faith, they cannot, because we know these precious
ones have gone on to another Place and are now being cared for by
gentle and loving hands and will be awaiting us when we pass through
that veil of tears and enter into that that comes after. That or
the Darkness that can destroy that that is without, they can break the
flesh, they can tear us asunder, but they cannot destroy that which is
within. They cannot extinguish The Light that has come into the
world, that says these lives were not in vain. They will never,
ever extinguish that truth! So must it be!" the pastor
cried.
Everyone in the gathering answered "So must it be!" The pastor
closed his book and came down from the pulpit.
"General Davis!" he asked, "Do you have some words about your
daughter?
The General rose. "I will not take the pulpit," he announced, "it
is not a warrior's place, but I thank our beloved pastor for his
words. They could not have been better chosen! Men of
Darkness have tried to destroy our souls, to keep us from doing what is
right. I swear to God they will not succeed! They WILL NOT
SUCCEED! My daughter loved, she did good for everyone around her.
That will not be lost. I swear to God, that will not be lost!
Thank you!"
The General sat down. "Mr. Ali," the pastor asked, "would you
like to say some words about your son?"
The very dark man rose. "Living among warriors," he began, "my
son always regretted that he could not be one because of the injuries
he sustained in his youth. But he was always proud of the brave
and courageous men that he worked around. That one of their
daughters found him worthy of being her husband filled him with
overwhelming pride, our good pastor has read inspiring words.
They would have pleased my son because I do not think his life has been
in vain. I thank all who were a part of it, I praise them!
I praise them before God.
The wise man we spoke of was once asked 'How could a person of the
Israeli faith, of the Jewish tradition forgive someone that was a Nazi,
that was involved in the holocaust?' He answered thusly. 'I
can forgive because I know my children will live forever and I think of
the poor mothers of those who have hurt my children who know that their
sons and their daughters will never live again, that they are lost
forever. Being a mother I have to understand their sorrow and
give their children hope, because I am a mother.' I could never
understand how anyone could so forgive, but now I do. My son
shall live forever. I pray that those who harmed him understand
what they are doing to themselves, and save themselves. I will
admit it is hard for me to feel this way. I would much rather
damn them to hell, but I must think of their mother, I must! I
thank you!"
The man sat down and those around him touched him in
understanding. The pastor again took the podium.
"Unfortunately one among us must be off to his duties. We would
like to praise these young people for all the day and tell the world
how much we love them. But the place is prepared where they shall
lie forever, and we must take them to it, and bid them farewell, to see
to it that there is never, ever another day like this. Let us
take them forth!"