I got a called late yesterday evening from my cousin, Darrick who lives in Kansas. Darrick is about as close to a brother as I will ever have. We have experienced much of life together. He has such a heart for ministry and his life exemplifies that to a tee. Today he is experiencing ministry in a different and painful way that no one wants to experience it. Late yesterday evening his father-in-law, Mike, at age 50 died suddenly with a massive heart attack. Mike was not only a father-in-law but a friend, an influence in the community, an influence in the church and an influence in his young family. The pain doesn’t end there because not too far into the past Mike’s younger brother died of a heart attack at age 43 just a couple of years ago. So here is Darrick, a 27 year old preacher who has the blessing but challenge of ministering to his wife who just lost a father, a family who lost a husband, son, etc.., a church who lost a leader and community who lost a friend. WOW. Please keep Darrick and Katherine in your prayers.
But in all this it caused me to stop and think about my life. I began to think if this was me I only have 13 or in Mike’s cause 20 years left. The reality then hit me and the truth said if may not even have thirteen years. Life is short and then it’s gone, sometimes when you least expect it. How would like differently if I knew? What stresses would I discard if I knew? What would I become more committed to if I knew? How would my ministry change if I knew? What petty issues would I stop fight about and what fundamental truths would I start defending for if I knew? I don’t know! So here I sit today mindful of the gift of life and I begin inventorying my life and what I hope to achieve in it. The fact is I am tried of killing myself slowly with stress when Jesus calls me to peace. It is time for me to breath a breathe of God’s glory. Start living life in such a way that screams commitment but at the same time screams enjoyment and true fulfillment.
I know that our tendency is to forget about tragedy that makes you think about or want to change certain aspects of life. So my prayer is that God makes us people that does not need consist reminder but people who get what life is really about and lives in such a way that it fulfills its purpose.
At the end of the day God is still God, and He is good!
2 comments:
My sister's husband died of a massive heart attack on Labor Day, 1996. He was only 36 and left behind his wife and 6 year old daughter. So I understand how you are feeling today. Yes, it makes you stop and take stock of your life. I drive by the cemetery every day on my way to and from work, and I think about my brother-in-law and others that I knew who are buried there. Relatives, friends.... I guess that's one reason we have cemeteries. To remind us that this life is terminal. And we don't know how much time we have here. But the good thing is, we as Christians know what's on the other side. So, while you are mourning the loss of someone dear, also rejoice in where he clearly has gone! Stay strong, brother! Just know that we see your commitment and appreciate all that you do. Take time to enjoy the ride. You're doing a great job!
Jason, moments like this make us stop and think about our life. Us being around Mike's age really gets the heart to thinking. Life is soooo precious and we shouldn't take one moment of it for granted. As we get older you realize that things dont matter in life, it is the family, friends and most of all Christ in our lives. We as christians should enjoy PEACE in our lives everyday. It is sad that our church family is the ones that cause us stress. Shame on us. Jesus came to earth and died and resurrected for us that we can have forgiveness and PEACE. Church families better wake up and see where or better who is the stressers in the family and get on their knees and pray for forgiveness. Christ commands us to be united and strenghten one another not tear each other apart with things that stress one another and kill. I pray for myself this day that I will learn from your words today and take a check on my life and make a new start to be an encouragement and not a stresser. Thanks for you words of thought. Proud of you man!
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