August 27, 2016
A Time for Everything
Lawrence On Pang typifies that first generation of Chinese in America who made the American dream come true. For many of us here, we can identify with the life that Mr. Pang lived because we have parents who shared similar experiences. Mr. Pang braved the journey across the sea, he established his residence on this foreign land, he was called up and served this new country by donning on a uniform, he and Mrs. Pang raised up children to be successful Chinese-Americans, he lived out the American dream. Living a long life of 90 plus years, Mr. Pang models for us that working hard, focusing on the task, living faithfully would lead to abundant life. For Mr. Pang, there was indeed a time for everything under heaven as Ecclesiastes said.
All of us here live with the hope that we would be remembered. When I heard about Mr. Pang’s life, I am reminded of God, our Creator. In Genesis, we read the creation stories of how God created the world out of emptiness. God created day and night, the waters and the dry land, the seeds, plants and the trees. God created all living things, the birds of the air, the fish in the sea, all the creeping things, and animals that roam the earth. God created people, made them out of clay in God’s own image and gave them the command to become good stewards of the creation God has made. At creation, there was a time of day for everything that God created. All that God makes is beautiful. Everything that God makes is good. We used to say, “God makes no junk!”
Mr. Pang used to collect things that perhaps others have deemed useless, junk and believed that something else can come from it. He saw that there was still value in what was disposed. He fixed up a junky mail truck to haul junk and eventually rented it back to the post office for service during the holidays. I think that if Mr. Pang were in charge of the US Postal Service, they would be making money today! Rather than seeing junk, he saw possibilities. Like our Creator God, Mr. Pang was making old things new again. He was one of the early pioneers in recycling. When Mr. Pang was facing a time when things were breaking down, for him, it was a time to build up again.
He bought over seven acres of unimproved land and improved it by building a house in Sebastopol. He got a set of blueprints that probably nobody wanted and used it to design his house. He was a life-long handyman taking apart toasters and car engines and then putting them back together again. One time, he dug a hole in the ground to repair a sewer pipe. Now, I think PG&E wants to know about it. With his toolbox in hand, he often lent a helping hand to friends and family alike whenever they needed help.
When I hear about someone like Mr. Pang, I often would think about God, the Creator who makes this world into a beautiful handiwork. In a way, we are all a little like how God continues to create, improve, repair, fix, putting things back together to make this world a better place. Inasmuch as God made each one of us, we are called to continue making all things new again.
In Hebrews 2:6-8, we read, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.”
One of the most familiar hymns that most everyone here would know is “This Is My Father’s World.” We all know the first verse by heart but here is the second verse:
This is our Father’s world: O let us not forget that though the wrong is great and strong, God is the ruler yet.
He trusts us with his world, to keep it clean and fair—all earth and trees, all skies and seas, all creatures everywhere.
Mr. Pang did his part in keeping the world “clean and fair” and all things fixed and made new again.
Many people of this first generation in America have not necessarily had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord. But I am reminded of an ancient Christian belief at Lent and Easter time when in the Apostle’s Creed, it says that, “He (Christ) descended into hell.” On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. On Easter Sunday, he resurrected. But what happened on Saturday? It is believed that “He descended into hell” meaning that Christ went to save all who were born before he came into the world and he went to save all who are born after he came into the world and had not professed their faith. This is to say, that it is God’s grace. God made us all and our trust in God is that out of Christ’s unconditional love and grace, Jesus Christ saves us all. (1 Peter 3)
When we reflect on Mr. Pang’s long life in this world, we see that he knew this is God’s world. He was unafraid to venture out from China to America to claim America as his new country, unafraid to go from San Francisco to Sebastopol to provide a house for his growing family, unafraid to move back to San Francisco in order to provide his children greater opportunities to learn more about their Chinese language and culture. Returning to San Francisco to be closer to family was a “time to gather stones together.”
Mr. Pang’s worldview was more than one can see. He saw new possibilities where others only saw dead ends. When he wasn’t able to see much of the world while serving in the US Navy during World War II since it is said, “Join the Navy and see the world,” he made up for it beginning in his mid 40s and lasting to his 70s. Over many years, he traveled with his wife annually to many different parts of the world. One can even say that as a parcel post carrier with the US Post Office, he was seeing the vast, wide world delivering packages with addresses from all 4 corners of the world to homes and places in San Francisco.
And when it was time for his children to bless him with adorable grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mr. Pang and his wife dedicated the rest of their lives to impart the valuable lessons of life onto the future generations. They are now learning what hard work would lead to. They are seeing new uses of things from what others may dispose of or call junk. They are learning to use their hands to fix broken things because in God’s plan for the world, all things are becoming new again.
Mr. Pang was a rather smaller man with a much bigger vision. He also had a big heart that gave generously to anyone in need. He also had the amount of courage to not be afraid when great odds were against him. If there is one thing that we who are in the living can learn from Mr. Pang is to not be afraid. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:28-31)
Mr. Lawrence On Pang’s legacy for us today is not to be afraid because he was not. He would want you to embrace the world as he did. He would wish you to see new possibilities everywhere when they may look like dead ends. He would want you to take precious time to teach your children the value of Chinese culture and language because having a heritage as Asian Americans prepare you well for today’s fast-changing world. He would want you to fix broken things and make them useable again because in so many words, Mr. Pang was living out his life like God would want him to live—making all things new again.
Today is a time to die, a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to embrace, a time to tear, a time to lose. But in the name of God in Jesus Christ, it is also a time to be born, a time heal, a time laugh, a time to dance, a time seek, a time to love, a time for peace for we all know that we have nothing to fear because in Christ, we are promised everlasting life.
There must be some things in each one of your households that Mr. Pang fixed, repaired, built, or made new again. Consider saving one of these things as a symbol of your father, grandfather, great grandfather to continue to teach you the lessons of life that would lead you to live faithfully in the Lord who has known you as he has known Mr. Lawrence On Pang from the beginning of life to throughout the many years of life and finally at the end of life. Believe in God’s wonderful grace that in God’s will, all is finally well. Thanks be to God!
Let us pray.
Creator and Provider God, at this time of all times under heaven, we thank you for the precious gift of life.
We thank you for health—and for the skill and compassion of those who care for us when our health falters and fails.
We thank you for home—for the roof over our heads and the place where we stretch out to renew our strength in sleep; and for loved ones who make that house and all the rest into a true home.
And we thank you for hope—hope for the pursuit of the next goal when one goal has been reached; hope for recovery from grief and a fresh start when a goal has eluded us; hope at last, when all hope seems lost, except for the one shining hope before us in your raising our Lord Jesus Christ from death. May we receive that hope and promise in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Announcements
The family thanks everyone for coming to celebrate the life of Lawrence On Pang. Your words of comfort, sympathy and prayers are deeply appreciated. We also want to thank all of the people who have helped in this service.
After you have come forward to pay your last respects and to greet the family, when exiting, you will be given two small envelopes: the white one with a piece of candy symbolizes that you have come to a bittersweet occasion and the family blesses you with a sweet and happy departure. The red envelope containing a coin symbolizes happiness and prosperity which the family wishes to bless you in your lives hereafter.
Immediately following this service, there will be a procession to the Committal Service at Hoy Sun Memorial Cemetery, 2101 Hillside Blvd, Colma. Following the Committal Service, please join the family for a memorial meal at Far East Cafe, 631 Grant Ave. in San Francisco Chinatown. The restaurant will be available for seating starting at 1:15 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lawrence On Pang can be made to the following organizations:
First Chinese Baptist Church, 1 Waverly Place, San Francisco, CA 94108
Self Help for the Elderly, 731 Sansome St., San Francisco, CA 94111
Benediction
I challenge you now, beloved in the Lord, to face bravely the journey that our friend, Lawrence On Pang has completed, having arrived safely in God’s kingdom.
Journey on, without the fear of falling, without any pretense about your true state as a sinner in need of God’s saving grace.
Journey on, with tender memories of Lawrence On Pang and so many others who have gone before you, secure in the hope that when your time comes, the love and grace of God will be sufficient for you, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and make you stand without the blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
Committal Service
Jesus said:
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)
Do not be afraid: I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead and see, I am alive forever and ever. (Rev. 1:17-18)
And from John, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we commend to God’s merciful care our brother, Lawrence On Pang; and we commit his body to this resting place: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
“Blessed are the dead who…die in the Lord…They will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.” (Revelations 14:13)
Let us pray.
God our Maker, you made our brother, Lawrence On Pang, in your own image; you set his feet on a sojourner adventure; you watched over him along the way. As you lovingly received and welcomed him to the ranks of the redeemed, we pray that you would continue to guide our sojourner steps so that, at the appointed time, we might join Lawrence On Pang in the communion of saints—forgiven, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. Go in peace.