Death does not have the final word

This week one of the saints of our church died after a long illness with lung cancer. Last Saturday, I had one of those "God moment" experiences at the hospital with him and his family. Another pastor and I were there, gathered around the bedside and reading Psalms and preparing to pray. I invited all to pray, and as I usually do, I took a few deep, internal breaths. I seldom just jump into a prayer. Before I could utter any words, our church member started to pray the Lord's Prayer. He had been struggling to breathe, much less talk in any real audible fashion. He was fervent and almost boisterous in his recitation of the prayer. We proceeded and then I closed with a blessing. Last Tuesday, when I stopped in at the hospital again, his daughter pulled me out into the hallway and said that her dad, now in a coma, must have been very moved by my leading the Lord's Prayer. Of course, I was quick to say that I didn't lead it, he did. She went on to say that it was the last thing he had been able to utter before he slipped into an extended sleep and coma. Wow! Is it possible that God really does speak in our breaths, our pauses and yes, even in our prayers? Praise be to God! breathe breathe pause pause wait wait Amen!