The Unveiling
October 23, 2011
Referring to the “stone” sounds funny. It’s not just a stone, it’s granite, hard, natural, igneous rock essentially formed of quartz. The word ‘granite’ comes from the Latin word which means grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of a crystalline rock. This gives the word “stone” a whole new meaning. It’s a reminder of Michael’s life on earth; his courage and ability to solidify his family, to constantly be our “rock.” And like granite, he stayed the same over time, never affected by temperature or abrasive people. He was resistant to caustic surroundings, just like the headstone—he was able to withstand the elements over time. And so I think about the “stone” in relationship to Michael. Granite, which is formed within the earth, emerges to the surface in different ways, sometimes from volcanoes, and other times from continental shifts. The pressure resulting from this causes the granite to become compacted and tough, and like Michael, steadfast until the end.