October 25, 2024

          Death Strikes Suddenly

Jesus wept. – John 11:35

“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

Those words from the song Three Wooden Crosses have echoed in my mind these past few days. James Smith was a friend, a former boss, a really good, kind and compassionate man. He was devoted to his wife, his children and grandchildren. He didn’t talk a lot about his faith. He simply lived it.

How does a man so filled with life suddenly move to heaven with no warning? When I got that phone call, I kept telling the caller that she had to be wrong. Not James. Surely not James.

Those of us privileged to know him are stunned. Heartbroken. Grief-stricken. And, yet, all the words we’re using to describe him echo the same sentiments. His legacy, which reaches far beyond his family, will live forever.

If you needed someone to laugh with you, James was right there. If you needed a defender, he was the first to step up. If you needed a sounding board, he had two ears that were always available to listen.

His priorities were right in line with his values. I’m not sure how many performances of Nutcracker he sat through over the years. Or how many swim meets he attended. Add class activities and beach fun. He was present in the lives of his grandchildren and he was just as excited for the last event as for the first one.

He rocked babies and gave away brides. He mourned his Daddy and took care of his Mama. He was someone you could count on. His extended family depended on him and he always showed up.

Was he perfect? No. None of us are. But he had his priorities in the right order. He loved Jesus and he loved Barbara, his wife of 44 years. He loved his family and friends.

I look around today and see people lusting after tomorrow with a gaze that never sees today. I see hearts that judge people based on possessions, while neglecting the seeds that grow into tomorrow.

James planted seeds. He planted seeds of kindness, integrity, compassion, honesty. He fertilized us all with hope and laughter. And the gift of his presence.

The coming days, weeks and years will be hard, especially for his family. There’s the new grandbaby he’ll never hold. And the graduation he won’t see. And let’s not forget the Nutcracker ballet and the swim meets and all the other things he will miss. He leaves a large void that none of us can fill.

But Jesus. Well, Jesus wept. And then He stepped up to fill that void as only He can.

March 27, 2016

Hope Rises Amidst Sorrow

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” -- John 20:15-17

Yesterday during the time when one day becomes the next, a life flight helicopter headed out to do what first responders do. They arrived at an accident scene, loaded a critically injured man on board, and lifted off. The helicopter crashed about ½ mile from the accident scene. All on board were killed.

Young lives gone in the seconds it takes for an aircraft to fall to the ground. I pray they all knew Jesus. I pray that in their grief, the families and friends of these four know with certainty that this heart-wrenching goodbye isn’t forever.

That’s what Jesus did for us. He defeated death so that all who know Him will have eternal life. On this Easter morning, hope has arrived. When we thought all was lost, hope spoke to our hearts. Jesus’ resurrection means that while our time here is temporary, our lives with Him are eternal.

Not long ago a man lamented his son’s lack of faith. The younger man doesn’t believe in Jesus and scoffs at the notion of needing a Savior. He doesn’t need to keep putting this off, the man said. He needs to know where he’s going when he dies.

I couldn’t speak for a moment. This man has been a Christian most of his life. I couldn’t stay silent. Well, I told him, your son may not know where he’s going but you do. He’s going to hell. Only those who believe in Jesus, who accept His gift of salvation, who believe in His resurrection, are going to heaven. Your son isn’t living in a neutral zone. He’s walking on a path to hell.

The man was shocked and couldn’t seem to find words. The truth is not always pretty. I wonder if we really stopped and considered that reality if we would be more open to presenting the gospel to the unsaved? We talk about choices -- and God did give us free will to make those choices -- but isn’t that just an excuse to not push the issue with an unbeliever?

Those four people on that helicopter never expected to die yesterday. The first was fortunate to survive a bad car wreck, only to die in a helicopter crash. The others -- a pilot, a nurse and a medic -- were doing what first responders do. They got a call and they went, in the middle of a rainy night, because someone else needed them.

We all need Jesus. We all need the hope this morning brings. Don’t wait to have that conversation with someone you care, someone who doesn’t share your hope. Tomorrow truly may never come.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Death Leaves Shattered Dreams

“He will remove all their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” -- Revelation 21:4

He went to lunch. The same thing he did every day he worked. Only this day he didn’t come back. His co-workers began to notice his absence. They got worried. They tried his cell phone but got no answer. Finally a supervisor called the hospital and found him.

His young wife sat there alone. He was dead. Just that fast. All their hopes and dreams shattered in a split second. His life on earth ended at age 23. She is now a 20-year-old widow. We know it can happen. We just never expect it to happen to someone we know.

I first met this young man several years ago when he began his job. He started at the bottom but he was never at the bottom of his supervisor’s radar. He was smart and he had a particular aptitude for engines and mechanics. He got promoted rather quickly. His supervisor started sending him to special schools. Yeah. He had a bright future working for people who valued his abilities.

He was a favorite among his co-workers. He had a quick laugh. His eyes would twinkle and he’d shake his head, a grin spread from ear to ear. He’d snag a soda or donut, look around to see if anyone noticed, then laugh about it as he leisurely strolled back to the shop.

He told me once that his mother was determined that all her children would attend college. He was just as determined that he would not. He was smart enough. He just wasn’t interested and considered college a waste of money for someone who would never use a degree.

He loved all things mechanical. He had a knack for engines -- cars, trucks, motorcycles. He loved to tinker with them and always had. That’s what he told me. He knew what he wanted to do and was determined to make his dream come true.

If he’d just left that motorcycle alone. He’d only had it a week. He usually drove a deep red Mercury that he’d spiffed up in his customary style. But not that day. Not that lunch. Not in that moment when it mattered.

So now family and friends will gather around his wife and his mother. They’ll mourn and rejoice, all at the same time. Because he’s gone home and doing just fine but they’re still here and face endless days and nights without him by their side.