Homily: Memorial Service for Patricia Smail

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Rev. Shelby Ochs Owen at Trinity Church, Staunton

Today we gather to celebrate the life of a dear friend, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, colleague. Today we gather to say good-bye to Patricia, child of God.

In our Romans reading this morning we heard the words, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Patricia was and is still a child of God. Created in the image of God, there were endless ways in which the Spirit led her to live out her calling to become a complete human being and to reflect the glory of her creator. Patricia, I think you all will agree, was a seeker, one who searched diligently for truth, and in her search for truth, she opened her heart and mind to God and God’s creation. Patricia was not afraid to ask the difficult questions of life, the existential questions that so many of us avoid asking at some point along our journey. I believe it was because of Patricia’s deep, anchored faith in God that she was able to learn to love the questions. I cannot say that Patricia was easy going; she was complex! She had to seek answers to be her true self, and she’d also be the first to say that she didn’t have things all figured out. Yet, her faith was in an inclusive, loving, generous God, and that faith was integrated in how she lived her life.

I came to know her through the Women’s Bible Study that she attended over the last couple of years. She had some dark days – days when threatening clouds seemed to hang right above her head but those darker moments did not keep her from continuing to engage fully in life. And all of us in the study group benefitted from her persistence in showing up even when life was taking a difficult turn. Patricia had this wonderful habit of carrying on in spite of the load that was on her. On days when she felt better, her laughter and playful engagement with the group brought great joy to the room. Her search for meaning, her hunger for truth helped the rest of us engage that same search and hunger with new zeal.

In the same Romans reading the writer Paul says, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing the revealing of the children of God.” Patricia had great love for God’s creation, her family and friends, her dogs, strangers in need, the beauty of the great outdoors. I believe she knew in her heart that God’s glory was reflected in his creation, and yet she waited with eager longing for God’s full truth to be revealed. And while she waited, she loved.

When we remember Patricia, can we, too, remember to love while we wait?