Encouragement

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Doorway To Eternity
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


On an unusually cool Oklahoma spring day filled with the fragrance of wildflowers, Sigmund Petroff walked around Saint Gregory University and Abbey campus when he came upon the cemetery that belonged to the monastery adjacent to its chapel. As cemeteries go, it was small in comparison. But there it was majestic and green. Sigmund could not resist. He slipped through the ungated plot and strolled among the rows of timeworn and weather-beaten markers, stopping now and then to read the names and dates of those who had entered into eternal life. Then, expectedly, Sigmund came upon the graves of Ambrose Sontag and Matthew Bach. Still fresh, their markers appeared new and unweathered. Not a single blade of grass graced what appeared to be recently dug.

Suddenly the reality of death seemed very close…intruding into the present from out of the mist of the past. Standing there alone in the monastic cemetery, Sigmund felt a deep twinge of sadness.

But as he turned to leave following his prayer for all, he paused and looked back. Fluttering through the graveyard dipping and dancing about over the markers, were two yellow butterflies. The butterflies were in sight for maybe a minute or two, but that one momentary glimpse brought back to him a glorious truth: Life continually flows from the death of life. With their metamorphosis the two yellow winged butterflies, from the tombs of their cocoons, demonstrate a changed, new life. Wasn’t God showing this truth through their lives? Sigmund recognized that this was but one more example of the eternal life the Father gave humankind with the death and resurrection of His only Son—Jesus Christ!

As he left the cemetery, remote and quiet on the sunny Oklahoma plains, Sigmund was invigorated by his experience with new hope and joy! For after all, a grave is nothing more than a doorway that welcomes those who trust and believe in Jesus’ work to God’s Kingdom of Heaven and the eternal happiness therein. This is the significance of Easter!!!

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