I have often commented that I grew up with death, which is probably the reason why one of my favorite poems was written by Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night." It is an appointment we will all have one day. You may live your life in fear of it, or you can respect it and make preparation for what happens once your appointment is fulfilled.
As a child, I remember going to "lay-outs" for family members in Kentucky, where the deceased were kept in the living room of the home until burial time. I've spent many long days in the funeral home break rooms listening to the old timers talk about the deceased, while they chain-smoked, possibly hastening their own demise. Then all of our grandparents kept their appointment with death. I remember three of them, but the fourth happened while I was too young to remember.
Once I entered the military, death became a distant but still unwanted guest. He seemed to be indiscriminate, choosing whom he would without my understanding why. As a Military Police Investigator, I saw my share of death and worked to find those who caused the crime...but the hands that caused the death were only helping death itself achieve it's end.
While home for a weekend, my older brother, David (we called him Buddy) suddenly died causing a deep and abiding grief to fall over our entire family. I saw the toll death took on my father and mother, at times taking them to the edge of insanity, wondering about the final destination of my brother's soul. He was not an overtly religious man, but his death caused my father to become one. At 25-years-old it was difficult for most all of us to understand, but death was not something new to me, it just seemed to be cold and indiscriminate in it's choices. Two babies, one a month old and the other three months old met death during my brother's first marriage, and in a cruel twist, these two deaths put such a strain on their marriage, that the deaths were a contributing factor to their divorce.
With ten years in law enforcement and almost 35 years of Christian ministry, I've seen the cruel work of Mr. Death. At rare times, he is welcomed by some of his victims and their families, but at most times the opposite is true.
Earlier this week we received the call that our older sister, Judy met death at about 4:00 a.m. while sitting in her chair. Judy Kay McKinley Luse lived a very difficult life...It was hard from the beginnings of our childhood. We had good parents who loved us, but not much else worked out for her. In most of her older life she had physical ailments, heart issues, diabetes issues, etc. In the last little while of her life, she felt a real need to share her faith in God with others. She was not the most articulate in doing it, and her failing eyesight made it hard to see the mistakes as she typed...but you can't take anything away from the passion for Christ she possessed.
In her Facebook posts she spoke often of our parents and how much she missed them. She shared about the life-lessons that came her way, and compared her new-found freedom in Christ with the childhood that at times was quite legalistic. I am so thankful for the freedom she found.
My younger Sister lived only a few miles from her, and spent a lot of time taking Judy to doctor visits and just plain being there for her. Living five-hours away, I am grateful that my sister, Mary Pearson was there, and I have often watched the spirit of my mother come on Mary (her namesake) as she lovingly cared for Judy, even though she has a large family of her own.
Finally, I've seen death too often and one day I will face him, just as you will. The point is to not go gentle into that good night. Make your preparations for when that moment comes, and live a full life! Love, laugh and enjoy life, knowing that this earthly journey is but for a time. DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT.
Comments