A dear friend of ours left this world a few weeks ago.
She had been diagnosed with an advanced aggressive cancer. And although she had just reached her “threescore years and ten” we all hoped and prayed that her time here would be extended. We were delighted when after treatment she got an “all clear.'” But our hopes were soon dashed when the disease returned with a vengeance.
Kathy had asked that if she died before me, I would sing her favorite song at the funeral. Then I realized that on the date of the Thanksgiving service in Florida we had committed ourselves to facilitate a retreat in North Carolina…. lead by friends who Kathy had introduced us to many years before in Colorado!
I sensed Kathy would say, “Minister to the living” and Pat her husband confirmed that was what we should do.
Father had already given to us the theme for the retreat: Death and Resurrection
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies it bears much fruit.” (Jn.12:24)
The session on Saturday morning due to some technical hitchs started 30 minute ‘late’….. but of course ….it was perfectly ‘on time’ for that was the precise hour when Kathy’s service was also beginning in Florida.
It “just so happened” that session begins with a wonderful video – that Kathy, a lover of creation, had sent us years before!
The little girl’s exclamation at the end in response to the whale’s ecstatic display of thankfulness, “She’s showing us that she’s ALL free!” took on a deeper and more wonderful meaning, as I then began Kathy’s song. I felt she was singing it from heaven……and I was merely joining in on earth:
Well I’m walking through this life my friend three foot of the ground.
Nothing here can touch me now, I know I’m skyward bound
For there’s joy within my soul that just won’t go away
It started when He called my name, the day I heard Him say:
Heaven is here at last my friend, heaven is in your heart
One day soon we’ll fly away, now is the time to start
Heaven is here at last my friend, the Spirit gives you flight
When that day comes we’ll soar with Him, so take off in this life!
The retreat was held just an hour from where, fellow missionaries from Ireland live. We hadn’t seen the Mearns for some time, and we knew we just had to visit, especially since they had their own personal and fresh, Death and Resurrection story!
Iris experienced what is called “Sudden Death Syndrome”…a simultaneous Cardiac Arrest and Stroke. Her heart stopped…… for 55 minutes, but her husband and daughter, Grace refused to believe she was gone, and Robert continued to speak to the neurons to ‘light up!’ Grace was given the picture of a rainbow. The name Iris means, ‘rainbow’. Grace saw one color ‘light up’ after another, sensing these were the 7 bodily organs being restored to life. After 14 days in a coma, Iris awoke.
“Who is that?” the nurse asked pointing to her daughter.
Iris simply answered, “Why, that is Grace!”
I had asked the Lord for ‘signs following‘ the theme of Death and Resurrection. Even better he gave ‘signs ahead’ of us:
At the center of the retreat centre was something I had never seen before – a magnificent Red Bud tree….’springing into life’ The Red speaking of Christ’s blood – of Death. The budding Buds – of Resurrection!
When we arrived at Robert and Iris’ home what was at the front of their home?
You’ve guessed it.
But the best for Hilary and I was yet to come.
Our flight home was delayed, and as a result we found ourselves watching with Robert the European champions quarter final game between Spurs and Man. City.
At one point I noticed a Spurs player with A1A on his jersey. It was obviously the name of their sponsor, but I realized this was the road Pat and Kathy lived on in Florida. The player turned around. He had #27 on his back. On our last visit to our friends I discovered for the first time that Florida was the 27th State. The name above the number was Lucas which means ‘light’. We knew Kathy had been a ‘son of light’
A few moments later I watched a most vicious foul against Lucas. “That was dirty!” we all exclaimed. Again I knew this was connected to our inner question as to why Iris should pass through death into life again in this world, and Kathy not?
Then, suddenly in what had been a rather dull goalless game everything came to life! A Spur’s player scored!!
He turned round. The name on his back –
“SON”
His number? –
a perfect 7
I had my answer. The Perfect Son has scored the winning goal…. not only on behalf of Kathy or on behalf of one particular team, but on behalf of us all!
“For God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have ……..LIFE” (Jn.3:16)
The last verse of the song goes:
“And you the one that I call my friend though I’ve never seen your face
Or know your name, it’s all the same, you’re still a child of grace
So why not lift your head my friend and look from mud to sky
You’re made to be a Son like me, you too where meant to fly.”
You might recall last week my likening the judge in the court case to a mother hen preening over her chicks.
My friend Bill is an eagle, as was Kathy. God’s plan is that ultimately all the barnyard hens find their wings, and are freed
……..to fly : – )
P.S. I ‘randomly’ found the top photo of Kathy and Pat. I noticed that behind them is a rainbow (Iris) ending with Kathy’s blue/indigo/violet, signifying God’s covenant of grace with the whole of creation (re-iterated 5 times in Genesis Ch.9)