My friends,
This week (later in the first decade of the 2000’s) I said goodbye to an old friend.
I got a call that Scott had finally been brought home by his family from the hospital to die. It’s the kind of call that no one in modern culture really knows how to take.
All those who wished to do so were invited to their home that night to say goodbye. Goodness, he’s only in his 50’s.
Scott sang at our wedding almost 20 years ago. His high melodic tenor voice and excellent acoustical guitar skills made him a popular event musician. He even turned down an offer many years ago to travel worldwide with a popular and upcoming evangelist.
He and I were table leaders at a men’s Bible Study for businessmen, and that’s where I had made his acquaintance right after I was saved. He had a different sphere of Christian friends so we drifted apart. I left the group over their refusal to preach the whole word of God and just offer the American gospel of wealth, health, patriotism, politics, competition, and irreconcilability.
Scott and I met up about again seven years ago after he contracted lymphomic cancer. His family came out to the country for a day to A Quiet Place, our non-profit ministry when they heard we were helping people with holistic natural health. They were serious about finding natural remedies, and went away very encouraged with a new path to follow.
But…the cancer took a slight turn and they rushed back to the world of chemotherapy and toxic drugs. Bless their heart.
So now at his home, when the crowd finally cleared a bit around his hospital bed in their living room, I slowly ventured forth.
If you’re like me, I am not equipped at all for these times. A couple of “tough” guys from the Bible Study days were there but were no more than fish out of water. Their usual arrogant swagger was temporarily gone.
As I peered down on his emaciated body, I took his hand in mine. And as I waited to see any response, I shuttered as I saw all the scars from the surgeries where tumors had been removed.
His face looked nothing like the Scott I knew. I again noticed his left leg was missing under the covers since it had been amputated last year. His stomach was bloated as the kidneys and lungs were shutting down and fluid was collecting.
Death is ugly.
God made it that way for us to lose our attachment to the worldly here and now.
Surprisingly, he opened his eyes wide for a moment and looked up at me. If I remember correctly, I managed a smile and said, “Hi Scott, it’s Marc White. Thanks for singing at our wedding and learning the special arrangement on the guitar of “The Wind Beneath My Wings.”
That’s all I could muster. Usually I’m not at a loss for words. But what do you say to a man who’s dying and knows Jesus?
He closed his eyes quickly, and went back to his labored breathing. I held his hand for a minute more thinking of other things I probably should have said.
But the Holy Spirit, the faithful, gracious, compassionate Spirit of our Father’s Jesus then gave me one more thing to say. A good friend of mine and a gifted leader in God’s kingdom always completes his phone calls with me in a certain way.
I found my mouth opening and in a slight whisper saying, “Goodbye…..for now.”
I sit here now, crying as I type, and waiting for the whole kingdom of God.
Won’t Scott sing wonderfully at the banquet table of God when we all meet Jesus?
Oh, to be there that day….
Can’t wait. How ‘bout you?!
So we pray to our Father. “Dear Lord, we can’t wait to see You in Your splendor and majesty. But also to see those loved ones who have journeyed across their Jordan before us. Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!”
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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You may view our Archives here: FRIDAY FIRE – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
