No this is not a column about the Boy Scouts who have “Be Prepared” as their motto.

However, the Scouts can teach us a lot with those two words.

And recently the meaning of being prepared was highlighted when I attended the funerals of Father Jonathan Bakkelund and Msgr. William Schwartz. And it just so happens that Msgr. Schwartz was a Scouter, so maybe there is a Scout thread to this column after all!

 Both of these deaths left more great holes in my heart, as most deaths do.
In working for the diocese for so many years I have grown great affection for our priests but with that comes great sorrow when they go to God.

But listening to the beautiful homilies about their lives and understanding their readiness to complete the journey of life is truly an inspiration for us all to get our own preparation to meet God going.

Both Father Bakkelund and Msgr. Schwartz knew the end was coming for them. In spite of their sufferings, both of them were not only prepared but ready to welcome what was waiting for them beyond death. God was waiting.

At Msgr. Schwartz’s funeral the word ‘joy’ was repeated over and over. His family even shared that he had made sure to have finely creased pants and new shoes so he could look his best for the God he loved and served so much.

I left both services comforted and contemplative. Am I prepared? Will I truly be ready? Will people know I loved God?

No one wants to think about death. But as we get to the point where there is less time ahead than behind us in life, we realize that we need to think about it, and we need to prepare. Especially if we are believers. And unfortunately, preparing is even more important if your family members are not practicing their faith or have left the faith. Some of us may get an illness that gives us suffering, but time to prepare for our end. Some of us will be taken suddenly. So we do indeed need to prepare and not leave our end to others.

And in this Lenten season we can concentrate on preparing each day. We can prepare our minds by focusing on things of faith. Reading about our faith and the people who share it in good Catholic material like this newspaper, listening to good radio like Catholic Spirit Radio, Relevant Radio and EWTN are good ways to prepare. We can select media that will inform, inspire and help us think.

We can prepare our souls with prayer, attending Mass regularly, adoration and getting to confession. For the last 10 years our diocese has helped make confession accessible for both busy folks and those who have been away through Be Reconciled Day, so take advantage of that and invite others to do the same.

And we can prepare by making sure our final wishes are carried out. Too many times families are left not knowing what to do for their loved ones and try to do what is most affordable and quick. And sometimes decisions are made about funerals because those left behind are uncomfortable with religion.

If that bothers you, then take charge. Write it down. Have someone at your parish help you. Pick the songs, readings and let your family know that it’s all prepared. Preparation will be a comfort for you.

As we prepare for Easter, let it remind us to prepare for the bigger picture — the promise of our faith and eternal life with Christ.

Hopefully all our lives and our funerals will serve to inspire others to know and love Christ like Msgr. Schwartz and Father Bakkelund did.