I went to a funeral this week.

A man in his eighties died after a brief illness.

And as I looked at the picture boards at the funeral home I saw Vern with his army buddies; with his children and grandchildren; and his wife of 53 years.  There were pictures of his hometown Dairy Queen, his tomato garden, the patio he put in back in the 70’s, and picture after smiling picture of Vern hugging, kissing, clowning, and enjoying every minute of it.

Vern was described as a man of simple faith, a follower of Jesus, destined for eternal life.

In Sunday’s Gospel we will hear Jesus define ‘eternal life’ this way: “…that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

In this instance Jesus doesn’t describe eternal life as a faraway place called heaven, rather he suggests it is something we have right here and now – something we experience by “knowing God.”

And we get to know God through his Word and his creation – especially the people he has given us and put into our lives.

So it makes me wonder if ‘eternal life’ isn’t found by examining and savoring key moments of our lives – in the richness of human experience – especially when we look at our lives through God-tinted lenses that help us see Christ in every person and situation – reminding us that God is working out everything, both the good and bad, to his mysteriously wonderful purposes.

Eternal life is knowing God – and knowing the depth of God’s loving care for us. O that we might more deeply understand God’s provision and harbor the promised assurance that all will be well! May we see eternal life - both today, and one day.