GRAVE ERROR

A YOUNG preacher was asked by the local funeral director to hold a graveside burial service for someone with no family or friends.

On the day of the service, the preacher hopped in his car nice and early to head out to the cemetery, but quickly got lost, making several wrong turns. Eventually, half an hour late, he saw a backhoe and its crew, but the hearse was nowhere in sight, and the workmen were eating lunch.

So the diligent young pastor went straight to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Taking out his book, he read the service. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, sending the deceased to the great beyond in style.

As he was returning to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say to his mate: “I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that.” Sue Ridge, email