A Sermon on Psalm 23

A Sermon Celebrating the Life of Richard ‘Rick’ Morrison

Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel

July 26, 2012

Psalm 23

            Before Blowing Rock was settled, the windy cliffs of the area were home to the Cherokee and the Catawba Indian tribes, they were hostile to each other, and they were always fighting. Two star-crossed lovers, one from each tribe, were walking near The Rock when the reddening sky signaled to the brave that he must return to his tribal duty, and the maiden urged him to stay with her. His desperation in choosing between duty and love caused him to leap from the edge of the gorge toward the rocks below, while the maiden beseeched the Great Spirit to bring him back to her. The famous winds of the John’s River Gorge blew him back into her arms, and this legend about The Blowing Rock is still told today. But we’ll get back to that.

            Friends we are here celebrating. We may be mourning our earthly loss, but we are rejoicing in Heaven’s gain. Rick from what I’ve heard, was an only child in how he was treated as a young boy, but his love for his family, especially his parents and his nieces and nephews is something of great joy to hold in our hearts. The special relationships he had with all of you was something he cherished I’m sure. Something held deep within him.

            But unfortunately for all of us, life is transitory.  Rick made it to the 18^th hole of his life on July 22^nd. He finished his game. He counted his score and it turned out to be pretty good, he was a pro after all. Then in a sign of ultimate grace, he walked hand in hand with the God of life and death onto the next course. I played golf in high school and I certainly wasn’t a pro like Rick was but I know enough about the game to realize that it takes a special person to play that game and be good at it. It takes a certain quiet patience to be able to play. It takes a confidence in knowing that the club will meet the ball, it takes humility to know that you’re good at a sport. From what I’ve heard in my conversations is that Rick has all of these qualities and so many more.

            Friends Rick cared for people, he cared for the game of golf, he cared for the area in which he lived. So we can take consolation in the 23^rd Psalm when it says, ‘Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil’ In the midst of this mortal life we have an eternal hope. Whether that is seen in the reality of the golf course or in a glorious sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are glimpses of eternity in our time and our place and Rick saw them in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places this side of Heaven.

            Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. When I was little, my mom always reminded me that you had to live in the valleys sometimes to make it to the mountaintops. Rick saw life both from the mountaintops and the valleys and that’s what made him special, he chose to spend his time in the mountains because he knew when the valleys come as they often do that he would be comforted by the God who created both the valleys low and the mountains high.

            Friends today you can have comfort, because God is present with you right now in these valleys. After the service here a small group will be scattering Rick’s ashes in the mountains. Let this serve as a reminder to you that God is present with us both when we mourn Rick’s passing and rejoice in his life. While we are toiling in the valley, Rick is celebrating in the mountains of a heavenly abode.

            Back to what I first told you about with the legend of Blowing Rock: Rick is gone from sight for us right now. He is no longer with us… Death thinks it has won. But death like the Blowing Rock doesn’t have the final say when it comes to love. One day in the future, you will be reunited with Rick. You will see his face and talk about the next 18 holes of golf he wants to play. You will smile, you will laugh, because the winds of death cannot keep you from the one you love. That is the beauty of grace. That is the beauty of God. All glory, honor and power be to the one who was, who is, and who is to come. Amen.