Meditation for the Celebration of Life of

Dr. Pam Brothers

Rev. William T. Stewart, II

Grace & Glory Lutheran Church

Palmyra, VA

It is finished. These words are comforting, for all of us know of the struggle and the pain, and the bravery, and the battle Pam has fought.

It is finished. There is a genuine relief that comes from knowing that there will be no more IVs, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, suffering, morphine.

It is finished. Praise God, it has been accomplished, but let not our words, "It is finished," speak of defeat, for what has been finished is just now going into full service! When we say "It is finished" about Pam, we don’t mean "She is finished," or "We are finished," or "Death has finally won."

The artist of life has used a brush to make a final stroke; and now we can see the finished creation. The composer has written the last note; now the orchestra can play! It is finished. That is why we can read the words today, "Fight the Good Fight".

From Pam’s first journal entry on June 20, 2001:

To the last entry which announced her death on Sunday, November 24^th we all saw Pam "Fight the Good Fight". She has WON!

Christ has opened the door to the bridge between our life here on Earth and Eternal Life and Pam has gone through and crossed that bridge. Pam and I talked about crossing that bridge and she was ready to do that.

All of us have special memories of Pam when she was well. She was beautiful even then. That was no slip of the tongue. To those of us who watched her die, day after day and week after week, and month after month, struggling with hope and medicines and prayers, we saw a special beauty in Pam’s life. There was even a "beauty" in her humor.

It was apparent how much Pam valued life.

The words of Jesus on the cross as his life on earth ended are the words I could hear from Pam (even in those last days when she could no longer talk)...."I’ve made it. It’s done. I’ve finished the race. I’ve completed the course. I’ve won the battle." Pam’s death is a victory because of her love for the church and her Lord.

Pam’s painful struggle looked like anything but a victory. When those who gathered about the foot of the cross of Jesus looked up, all they could see was a lifeless Lord, a broken and battered and bruised Jesus. They did what we must do now. With respect, they took the body away and put it in the earth. With great sorrow, they lifted it up, and the pallbearers felt the weight of his body. Their thoughts were not much different then ours. "It is a cruel world. He didn’t deserve to die. We prayed for his recovery. Why, God, this horrible death?"

We, too have our questions: "Why did the suffering have to linger so long? Why couldn’t Pam have been spared? She was so young and such a good doctor. Why couldn’t she have recovered?" The answer to all of these questions is summed up in those three words: It is finished. The fight is over; the battle is done.

Pam loved this life...I hope that in heaven she can "break 80 on the links".

She loved her church, family and friends as confirmed by the words in her journal on November 15^th:

The news from the oncology department is bad. Yesterday I had a CT scan of my brain and of my abdomen. The reading shows multiple new metastatic lesions to the brain and throughout the liver. Surgery is now out of the question. They now anticipate me to live for only a short while longer. I have had such a wonderful summer. I've enjoyed the church, my family, friends, playing golf, and all those who prayed to give me such a wonderful summer.

Pam hung on and on, living between two worlds. Pam was a minister to all of us who knew her. Her battle and struggle say more than words can say. She did not choose this ministry. She did not inflict herself with cancer, but when the truth came clear, she accepted her ministry and shared her experience.

Her ministry is now complete. Her witness is done. She has now been perfected for the kingdom of God. That’s what it means when we say "It is finished." The paint brush is now set down. It is a victory cry, a sound of joy, and the ending of a hard work of creation.

We could stop right here and let her ministry speak for itself, but there is one thing more that must be said.

Pam is now part of the church triumphant. She is still part of the church she loved so much – the communion of saints.

When those disciples carried the lifeless body of Jesus to the tomb, they went in grief. They had no idea what was going to happen. They were living on the wrong side of the resurrection.

That’s why, when the women went to the tomb the next day, they didn’t go to see if the Lord had risen. They went to anoint his lifeless body. Even the empty tomb wasn’t enough to create faith in them. They had to be told that the Lord had risen. Even then, they didn’t believe until they saw him.

From the cross Jesus said:

"It is finished. But death - your control over my people is ended. I’m going to stand beside the graves of all my people and call out their names - one by one - with a voice that can wake the dead:

‘Pam, get up. Come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet. There are some people waiting to greet you. I have a new job for you to do. Oh, don’t worry about your body. You have a brand new one. It’s a spiritual body, perfect in every detail. Cancer can’t destroy it. Death has no power over it. It’s good for an ETERNAL life. The door I’ve knocked upon has been knocked off its hinges. Come on in.’"

Pam, you have fought a good fight, painted a beautiful picture, composed a rich and mellow symphony. Thank you, Lord, for Pam. We commit her to your eternal care. Amen