Lately, it seems I've been on the go a lot. Yet, I'm not sure I've accomplished much. We're going on vacation -- getting out of town for a bit. We will reconnect with family and friends. Perhaps we will meet new people. We will see some new places.
I pray that I can be God's messenger to those folks I meet. At the same time, some of those folks will be carrying a message to me. Will I be listening and paying attention? When I'm so caught up in day-to-day activities, I forget to stop and listen. I wonder what God has to say to me.......
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Loss of a friend
My friend Marty passed away yesterday. He'd been ill for a long, long time and I would like to hope that he was ready to go from this life to the next. My hope is that he has found a life free from disease and pain.
Rand and I first met Marty about 35 years ago. The circumstances of that meeting were not ideal. Rand was coming to town to interview for a job. We really needed Rand to get the job. As he arrived in town, the car broke down. It was a Toyota and at that time, it was hard to find folks who could fix "foreign" cars. (Toyota hardly meets the definition of foreign today, but I digress......) Anyway, Marty was the one who fixed the car. I don't know how we managed to pay him for it because our financial situation was dire. I'm guessing that he probably didn't charge us as much as he should have, but he saw the need we had and helped a young man who needed transportation. (Thoughts of the Good Samaritan story here.)
Well, Rand got the job and we moved to town. After a while we started looking for a church and then were led to Broadway Christian Church. Maybe we were pushed there by Rand's grandmother, but that's a story for another time. Anyway, when we first went to Broadway, Marty was the first to greet us. We joined the congregation and Marty continued to encourage us as a young family. Over the years, I have watched Marty's commitment to God, to the church and that God-love that he shows towards others. I'm not sure I ever heard him articulate his faith in God, but he showed it every day.
There is another connection. Rand sings bass in a quartet -- Glory Road. Marty's son Larry sings baritone in that quartet. Marty quietly encouraged the guys in the quartet to keep on singing praises to God. The quartet appreciated his presence.
Just last night, I was talking with a young member of our congregation. This 15 year old boy remembered Marty as someone who always greeted him and was interested in him. It helps to remind me of our interconnectedness and our importance to one another and to God. No matter your age, your health, your financial status, your employment situation -- God uses each and every one of us. Isn't that great to know? God uses all who make themselves available. God does the work thru us.
So, today and in the next few days, I may shed a tear or two for the loss of my friend. But I have some wonderful memories that will live on and I am assured that Marty is living on now with Christ.
Nancy
Rand and I first met Marty about 35 years ago. The circumstances of that meeting were not ideal. Rand was coming to town to interview for a job. We really needed Rand to get the job. As he arrived in town, the car broke down. It was a Toyota and at that time, it was hard to find folks who could fix "foreign" cars. (Toyota hardly meets the definition of foreign today, but I digress......) Anyway, Marty was the one who fixed the car. I don't know how we managed to pay him for it because our financial situation was dire. I'm guessing that he probably didn't charge us as much as he should have, but he saw the need we had and helped a young man who needed transportation. (Thoughts of the Good Samaritan story here.)
Well, Rand got the job and we moved to town. After a while we started looking for a church and then were led to Broadway Christian Church. Maybe we were pushed there by Rand's grandmother, but that's a story for another time. Anyway, when we first went to Broadway, Marty was the first to greet us. We joined the congregation and Marty continued to encourage us as a young family. Over the years, I have watched Marty's commitment to God, to the church and that God-love that he shows towards others. I'm not sure I ever heard him articulate his faith in God, but he showed it every day.
There is another connection. Rand sings bass in a quartet -- Glory Road. Marty's son Larry sings baritone in that quartet. Marty quietly encouraged the guys in the quartet to keep on singing praises to God. The quartet appreciated his presence.
Just last night, I was talking with a young member of our congregation. This 15 year old boy remembered Marty as someone who always greeted him and was interested in him. It helps to remind me of our interconnectedness and our importance to one another and to God. No matter your age, your health, your financial status, your employment situation -- God uses each and every one of us. Isn't that great to know? God uses all who make themselves available. God does the work thru us.
So, today and in the next few days, I may shed a tear or two for the loss of my friend. But I have some wonderful memories that will live on and I am assured that Marty is living on now with Christ.
Nancy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
