safe exploration of emotions in sermon

I have found this thought has jogged my memory. The incident that I shared in the last audio-conference still sticks in my memory as a powerful way to bring healing and 'moving on' to a congregation. The 11 year old boy, tragically killed, lay in the opened casket in the sanctuary. 150 + class mates and many adults gathered round in the seating. The sermon was delivered and just prior to sealing the casket, the priest invited the young to come forward to say their last farewells. When the music started for this time it had the effect of giving permission for the young people to openly grieve. The song "Forever Young" created an atmosphere that supported the young as they spontaenously cried. They moved forward in a wave of emotion that was not superficial. Students were comforting each other in their grief. Words were not needed, just moments of tears and, for many, touching the still body of their class-mate in the casket. My own younger son,Matthew, who was sitting on my wife,s knee, was crying even though he was 5 years younger than the boy who was killed. Why are you crying? I asked. He said that he saw all the others crying so he had to cry too. Healing came to both my sons that day. The time of the tears I experianced as healing and life-giving to all those present. I was moved by what I was part of. The young people were allowed to express and explore their emotions in a safe place. The music stopped and the tears came to a gradual and natural end. I felt an incredible moment of peace and presence at that moment. The casket was sealed and the young boy was taken from the sanctuary. To this day, the young class-mates of the boy who was killed, remember his anniversary with a time at the place he died. They will text each other leading up to the time and now, almost 4 years later, I still see a special bond between those class-mates, including my older son Sam.
There is an important place in sermons for safe exploring of emotions. A place where words are at a minimum and the experiance can be a powerful source of healing, conversion and presence.