Dream•sync

I just got back from a visit to Roswell Park tonight.

My great Uncle Bill is there, wrestling with the dying process.  He's 75, and was pretty much in 'perfect' health back in December.  From what I understand, Christmas came and went, and it was probably around then that they figured out something wasn't right.

He was in church in January.  Upright, full head of hair, attending the Sunday School his brother-in-law, my Grandpa D, teaches.  Standing next to my Grandpa B conversing while they waited for his ride.

It's now the end of march and he's ready to step into eternity. 

My Grandmother with her 3 brothers: Maurice, Merle, and Bill.

Both my mom and I thought it was important that my Grandma go and see her brother before he passes.  Her other brother, Merle, passed away in January in Florida; though she had a lot of phone conversations with him, she was unable to make it down there to see him.  We, along with my Grandpa drove over tonight and went up to visit, not expecting that there would be a whole lot of visitors.  Bill's wife Marcia was there, and their three daughters, who last saw me as a young girl.  Strange how quickly time passes.

It was hard on my grandmother to see him there, lying in bed, no hair, IV drips with saline and morphine, not able to swallow, not able to communicate with words.  All because of this aggressive cancer.  He recognized her though.  As soon as they said Margaret's here, he did his best to reach over for her hand.  His words were grunts - but it was clear to us all that he knew she was in the room.  He recognized my Grandfather and my mom too.  My grandma was able to talk to him and tell him repeatedly that we were praying for him - and that she loved him.  How important to say those words to loved ones while we have the opportunity. 

We had a nice visit with his wife and daughters.  The time was short though - he had not spent that much time awake and responsive in the last day or so.  Just this past Monday/Tuesday he could still converse with people.

The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.

                           -Psalm 90:10,12

Even close to the end Great Uncle Bill was encouraging people around him in the Lord.  Apparently he had several conversations with the nurses at Roswell encouraging them to 'seek the Lord while He may be found'.  He's confident of his eternal destiny.  Are you? 

The rebellion of the first man, Adam, against God’s command brought death, suffering, and separation from God into this world. We see the results all around us. All of Adam’s descendants are sinful from conception (Psalm 51:5) and have themselves entered into this rebellion (sin). They, therefore, cannot live with a holy God but are condemned to separation from God. The Bible says that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3:23) and that all are therefore subject to “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

But the good news is that God has done something about it. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ the Creator, though totally sinless, suffered, on behalf of mankind, the penalty of mankind’s sin, which is death and separation from God. He did this to satisfy the righteous demands of the holiness and justice of God, His Father. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice; He died on a cross, but on the third day, He rose again, conquering death, so that all who truly believe in Him, repent of their sin, and trust in Him (rather than their own merit) are able to come back to God and live for eternity with their Creator.

Therefore: “He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

I implore you - be sure.  Don't wait.  Don't put it off. 

Death is ugly.

But it's not the end.

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
      "Death is swallowed up in victory."
      "O death, where is your victory?
       O death, where is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                               -1 Corinthians 15:53-57

Finish well, Great Uncle Bill.  Praying for you as you run the last leg of your race.

[Note: Great Uncle Bill crossed the finish line Saturday, March 26, 2011 right around 1:30 pm.]

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Listening to: "Under" by Morgan Page from his 'Elevate' album.
Reading: I'm in between novels right now.  Trying to focus on more Scripture reading...
Crafting: 3 cross stitch projects, 2 blog layouts, wedding invite designs and business cards.  I need a vacation :)
Studying: Reading through Exodus right now...

Driving back from Prayer & Praise last night I heard this song on my iPod... hoping we can sing it this Sunday...

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

God is still good...

[Edit - Missy was only 21.  She apparently had a blood disorder.  I was encouraged by her obituary which you can read here:  http://www.legacy.com/Dayton/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=139275067]

You know how facebook is this wonderful tool for communicating with friends both near and far?

Today I experienced one of those facebook days where I'm both happy for the connections it allows me to keep, and sad for the news it brings.  And still kind of hoping that this isn't true.

One of my friends from Ohio posted on her facebook status a prayer request today, for another friend who lost his wife suddenly this morning.

While death shouldn't surprise us it seems that it always does. We expect it in our old age while still inwardly denying that it will ever happen to us. We have experienced the loss of great grandparents, grandparents and for some of us even parents. Often we console ourselves by saying they lived full lives.

According to another friend's prayer request, Missy was 21.

21.

I knew she was young. Ben just turned 24.

I cannot imagine the grief he must be feeling. Or the shock. Or even the anger that may or may not follow.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We still grieve.  But we have hope.

Praying for you, Ben.