When we moved to the USA I asked Father, “What do you want us to do?’
He answered, “Simply make friends and be friends.“
One of those friends was Joel Lewis. Joel passed from this life a few weeks ago, while we were back in Ireland.
Last Saturday we attended his service appropriately at Sojourn church, for as the painting above conveys he, like Paul on the Damascus road, had received a ‘heavenly vision’ that marked his lifelong quest for ‘the real deal’
His horse has no saddle. None is required for one who connects at a deeper level with God, his creation and his creatures.
Angels accompanied Joel. His wife Kathy.
Then there was the angel that visited Rob Larson when he was convalescing in our home from a back injury he’d sustained working at Joel’s
‘In the end, everything is going to be OK.’ Rob reminded me, was the message the angel brought to him.
Appropriately the two of us were standing in the entrance at Sojourner church looking at Joel’s depiction of Jesus in the storm, peacefully asleep in the boat while the disciples panicked!
I had then taken Rob’s place as Joel’s helper on a project on the farm. Living out in the boonies with he and Kathy for 2 weeks is what sealed the ‘friendship’ deal.
And then there was the angel his daughter Josie saw at his passing, or rather the archangel – Raphael, with a shepherd’s staff. When she mentioned it to us on Saturday I recalled in the Johnny Enlow episode I had linked to in the last blog Raphael was the Archangel assigned to the mountain of Family. Josie also saw an honor guard of angels welcoming this humble servant home, with the affirming words, “You did a good job!”
I remember being struck like the rider, by Joel’s simple prayer at the meal table, “Thank you Lord for your kindness.”
I suppose if that is where your brief Sojourn on this earth leads you to, you have indeed arrived at God’s desired destination.
Joel would often repeat, “You know God has called me to be an artist.’
God called my brother Chris who died one year ago, and my son Ben, to be bards.
Here is Ben singing a song Chris wrote about our mutual friend Coke. Coke drowned tragically at the young age of 18…….but just after he had been….. befriended by Jesus.
Click here to listen. https://youtu.be/FHKajQ8r0b8
