A Short Life

I found this gravestone in the Yorkshire town of Scarborough. It dates from the year in which our Chapel was founded and commemorates the life of one Isaac Short, who died at the age of 21. People in former times are likely to have been more familiar with death than we moderns, but this in no way lessens the tragedy of Isaac’s short life. Upon the stone are the words happy the souls to Jesus joined. Was this a piece of stock sentimentality, glibly carved in a religious age? Or does it express a real and certain hope that young Isaac went to a much better place to see his Maker in person? His life may have been brief and tragic, but the real Christian always has so much to look forward.

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Phil. 1:23