1024AFC061110
In Memory of “Auntie Tin-Tin”
This week’s Bible verse is one that many, many people have committed to memory. I know for sure I’ve know this since at least the fourth grade and maybe even earlier than that. Many of you know it as well or will at least recognize it. If is Philippians 4:13
NIV: I can do everything through him who gives me strength
NAB: I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
KJV: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Auntie Tin-Tin was the babysitter for our goddaughter, Lily Mae. She passed away suddenly last week. Although she had been in poor health for quite some time, her death caught all of us off guard a bit. When someone we know dies unexpectedly quite often we hear phrases like, “Well, you never know.” Or maybe “When your number’s up, it’s time to go.” And of course, “We all gotta go sometime.” And the ultimate, “Only two things are certain: Death and taxes.”
Those expressions seem a little flippant if you are well-acquainted with the deceased. Family and close friends are more likely to say, “Well, s/he’s in a better place now.” Or “I know I will miss her a lot because there are so many things we shared together.” And “S/he will always live on in our memories and in our hearts.” And the ultimate, “They are enjoying God in Heaven now.”
All of these things are ways we express our perceptions of death. All of them are things we say when people die. There are, of course, billions of words written to describe death and dying. There are organizations like hospices that help us get through the last days of life. We had a fellow a few years ago who did everything he could to help people get “beyond the veil” through assisted suicide – they even made a movie about him. How we perceive death depends a lot on how we perceive life. If life is a gift, then death may also be a gift. If life is a struggle, death may be a gift, a relief, or just another struggle. If death is something to fear, then life is probably fear-filled, too. Sometimes our misperceptions about life give us misperceptions about death.
Every culture on Earth has pondered death. Some have worshiped death or gods associated with it. Some worship God who conquered death in Jesus. Some believe death is just biology 101; first you’re alive and then you’re not. Some people worry about it all the time, others prepare for it with elaborate plans, and most of us just try not to think about it too much – however much is “too much.” Many of us have no fear of death at all. It’s not because we are brave, or especially courageous, or out of ignorance or arrogance. We just know that death has been conquered. We know that eternal, everlasting life is the next part of our journey, and we’re at peace with that.
Now, it’s true, most of the time we don’t know when or where death will occur. You all remember Justin, our 7 y.o. MBN member with the cordoma. The last news I got from his mom about a month ago was that his life-expectancy was around six months. We are all still praying that Justin will receive the miracle he needs to be totally healed. I know it’s got to be tough on his family, though. Knowing that death is imminent doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Sometimes we use humor to deal with it. I heard a comedian say, “Dying is pretty popular. Everyone I know is doing it.” Hank Williams had a lyric that said, “No matter how you struggle or strive, You’ll never get out of this world alive.” Crucita and I cracked up this past weekend when we heard a guy in a commercial say, “Six out of ten Americans are dead.” Well, that’s what we thought we heard. What the guy actually said was, “Six out of ten American are in debt.” (Sometime getting old is really funny stuff!!)
I remembered this story about some friends who loved to play baseball:
Two ninety-year-old men, Moe and Sam, have been friends all their lives. Sam is dying of cancer, and Moe comes to visit him every day.
“Sam,” says Moe, “you know how we have both loved baseball all our lives, and how we played minor league ball together for so many years? Sam, you have to do me one favor. When you get to Heaven, and I know you will go to Heaven, somehow you’ve got to let me know if there’s baseball in Heaven.”
Sam looks up at Moe from his death bed, and says, “Moe, you’ve been my best friend many years. This favor, if it is at all possible, I’ll do for you.”
And shortly after that, Sam passes on. It is midnight a couple of nights later. Moe is sound asleep when he is awakened by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calls out to him,
“Moe…. Moe….” “Who is it?” says Moe sitting up suddenly. “Who is it?”
“Moe, it’s me, Sam.”
“Come on. You’re not Sam. Sam just died!”
“I’m telling you,” insists the voice. “It’s me, Sam!”
“Sam? Is that you? Where are you?”
“I’m in heaven,” says Sam, “and I’ve got to tell you, I’ve got really good news and a little bad news.”
“So, tell me the good news first,” says Moe.
“The good news,” says Sam, “is that there is baseball in heaven! Better yet, all our old buddies who’ve gone before us are there. Better yet, we’re all young men again. Better yet, it’s always spring time and it never rains or snows! And best of all, we can play baseball all we want, and we never get tired!”
“Really?” says Moe, “That is fantastic, wonderful beyond my wildest dreams! But, Sam, … what’s the bad news?”
“Moe, you’re pitching next Tuesday!”
Well, so maybe it’s not a good idea to know. But I do know this: Just as I am absolutely certain I will someday jettison this cranky old man’s body, I also know that someday I will rejoice eternally in a brand-new glorified body. I’m also pretty confident that I do not and will not fear dying. The only things I “worry about” are the circumstances. I think mostly the idea of chronic pain or severe injury haunts me. Other than that … well look at the second and third paragraphs up there. That brings me back to the verse for this week.
Even when it comes to death, I can handle that through Christ who strengthens me. To extend the thought expressed by the comedian quoted above, “It works every time as near as I can tell.” Actually compared to some of the stuff we have to deal with day-to-day, dying is a piece of pie (or cake if you like that better than pie). There is so much suffering to endure in this life! Illness, famine, pestilence, war, terror, politics, pain, injury, insult, tragedy, “acts of nature,” acts of humans, bad music and art, COPD and cancer, splinters and hangnails, dogs that bark all night, oil spills, domestic violence, violence of any kind, child abuse, pornography, desperate poverty, and interminably long sentences by people who should know better! But I can endure all of that when I am empowered in Christ. Auntie Tin-Tin knew that, too. I’m OK with knowing that, knowing that she knew. That’s enough for me.
Feeling a little beat down? Tired of the monotony of monotony? Thinking that death is something you’d rather not think about, at least not right now? Afraid you’ll have an offer you can’t refuse like Sam’s? Then it’s time to get connected to Him who empowers us to do everything. Do it today. It’s even more certain than death or taxes that you will be amazed by the Peace given to you through Grace.
One last request for today: Go back to the interminably long sentence and pray for the people, places, and things suffering from everything in that list. Can you do that, please? Do it for, with, in, and through Him who empowers us all in every good thing we think or do or say. Keep praying those prayers for the rest of next week. It will make a difference! (And you know, a deliberate act of corporal or spiritual mercy here or there would be much appreciated, too.)
God bless you, Peace be with you, and …
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
chick
