When I lost John someone said
something profound to me. She said “This
must be such a loss, after all you grew up together.” A profound thought; not just a loss but also
a growing.
I have enjoyed growing up with your family.
Both of you have taught me so
much…about living life and modeling it, not only as a family but also as a faithful
Christ follower. From being in your
midst I have learned much about prayer and teaching and loving and leadership …
and showing grace.
I have listened to many Pastors
and there have been a few with whom I have felt like raising my hand, wondering
about some of their words, but not with you…well only once… I had to make an
appointment and come to your office…that was hard, for both of us, but both met
with grace…that memory is an honor.
But there is more…
I have been on quite a journey
these last few weeks…a journey that has taken me on your road. Your journey…me along for the
ride, it’s been a privilege; emotional and an honor!
I have been going through files
on sticks, files on CD’s and envelopes of photographs, baskets of them…fourteen
years’ worth…all about Arnold Church…and you.
I saw how you came as a young man
(you had more hair then) you came with a young wife and a sweet baby, your
small family…and as I perused all these images I watched you grow up right
before my eyes.
When I say ‘you’ know that I include Leanne too…because walking beside every
good man is a great woman.
While I devoured image after
image, it was like I could feel the emotion they reflected…I saw the tracks of tears
and heard the sounds of hearts breaking…the sound of that sadness deafening…but
more than that I heard the sounds of laughter, not only from you but from those
around you. I was inundated with the cacophony of unrelenting happiness!
I saw the toddlers that walked
within the walls of Arnold community church, the ones you called by name,
chased and held hands with. I saw you
sitting on the edge of the stage praying over them. You took a special interest in all of
them. You were at hand when they were
born, many you dedicated, you wept over them and laughed with them as they
grew.
Those young children you sat with
(your children included)… I saw them climbing the stairs into crazy youth years
and then to young adulthood; some of whom you picked up at Upper Sumas School
in that big yellow bus, some whom you baptized and some whom you united in marriage, counselled and have been modelling life for.
I poured over memories of people
who stood at the gates with you, elders, deacons, ministry leaders, I saw their
compassion for you and for one another.
I saw the general congregation, fellow sojourners on the road with you;
none of them general but special in their own way, serving out grace and mercy,
joy and laughter. I saw them all being
the hands and feet of Jesus.
I saw worship happening, I could
hear the different instruments resounding and I heard the voices singing out
praises with the assembly…musicians echoing sacred moments often with your family
in the midst of them.
I scrolled through images that
were overcome with the saints, ranging in age from Granny Neumann who was on
the journey with us until her old age of 102 to the three youngest new borns, triplets
of whom I am sure you have already prayed over and touched each tiny hand.
I saw the saints lost… Kristy
Tolsma who inspired you to stand on the hill at the edge of the tracks, praying;
sweet Mary Neumann, who most likely taught you much about prayer; both Mary and
John Rempel, of whom shared immeasurable wisdom and integrity. You embraced the family of little Brady
Pauls; you mourned Josiah Haak and his struggles, more than anyone could bear;
you offered strength to Neil Ens and comforted my own John whom you called
precious.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants…”
I saw hard
times, not so much visible to the eye but in the background and around the
edges...decisions
being made, roads blocked, plans laid out, visions coming to pass. Words penned
and spoken, boards and brick all broken, crumbled in blood, sweat and tears….but
love too.
Fourteen
years of winding dips and turns, of uphill climbs, of open road and clear
sailing…fourteen years of travelling a road that God sent you to navigate; to
guide traffic and to repair bridges…a road that you put us all on…a road that
has spanned a life time.
Here is
a trustworthy saying that is worthy of acceptance…
You have been an amazing part of our lives, a man of God who
has enriched us beyond measure!
And though we are filled with joy for your new adventure, we
are going to miss you with tears…
And these, not my words…but a fitting end
“There is sacredness
in tears; they are not the mark of weakness but of power!
They speak more
eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are messengers of
overwhelming grief… and
Unspeakable love.”
We will
always love you…
And I love
that!
