Harry’s Song

Since the 4th century, the church has sung of this moment…

The song of Simeon, 

…the moment old Simeon takes the Christchild into his arms and sings

Now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all peoples.

A song of blessing, a moment of deep meaning, of fulfillment.

Simeon lived by the words of Psalm 84, 

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord.

The honor standing at the door, of blessing those who enter….

Simeon’s gift, his blessing, is big-heartness, openness, wonder….

Welcome, we call it, a we see in those who do not cloak their hearts, who find deep meaning in blessing others, 

Who see Christ in all; who welcome all in Christ’s name.

Harry was our Simeon, the doorkeeper in this house of the Lord.

Generations of children were blessed by him, parent’s hearts warmed by his goodness.

To be greeted by Harry’s smile, to receive a bulletin from his hands, was to know the welcome God intends for all of us.

We might well imagine that his long career selling homes to families was also Simeon-like, a blessing.  

How he listened to their hopes and dreams, what they imagined for their families found welcome in Harry, they experienced what we knew and loved him for, that smile, that big-heartness that was such a gift to all of us.  

Some weeks ago, I asked Harry to add two ushers to collect our offerings; I suggested he invite children to help…

His eyes lit up, and with tenderness so essential to him, he helped our kids learn the honor of serving.

Harry made it a practice to be the last to receive Holy Communion, each time telling me who needed to receive communion from the pews.

That was Harry, looking out for others, making sure everyone was taken care of….

What we saw in him on Sundays in church; 
Harry lived Monday through Saturday in Baraboo.

That smile was always on his face, his heart was always open, the way he felt honored to greet and welcome at our doors was the same way he felt honored to greet and welcome people looking for homes.  

The Song of Simeon is the Song of Harry….

He lived it, we saw it, we experienced the openness and welcome God intends for all people when he handed us our bulletins and when he showed us our homes.

I like to think of Harry meeting St. Peter at the gates of Heaven.

St. Peter looking at him and seeing all the things that can be counted, number of bulletins he gave to us over the years, number of handshakes, number of offerings he collected, number of times he helped serve Holy Communion, number of families living in homes he found for them, number of sporting events and birthdays and family celebrations he brightened, number of dogs he loved…

And all that cannot be counted but was essential to Harry, that smile, that openness, that welcome.

St. Peter saying, “Well Harry, we need someone to stand at the gate and welcome newcomers, show them around a bit.

Old Simeon here will help you get started…

Harry’s eyes lighting up, that shining smile, taking his place next to Simeon where he now belongs, in heaven as on earth, blessing and welcoming all in Christ name for eternity.