I just heard that my great uncle passed away last night. He was truly one of the saints of our family - a faithful Catholic, devoted husband and father, all-around great family man in the best possible sense of that concept.
This comes just two days after our grandson was born. So of course people are already saying things like, one life ends, and another begins, or God takes one and gives another. But there's something about that idea that bothers me. Not that there's anything wrong with it, per se, but I think maybe it doesn't do justice to the fact that a life in Christ never really ends. Yes, we have a new life just begun in this little newborn. But with my great uncle, after 80-something years of life, his life is also just beginning. We say, "rest in peace," and yes, that's good, but I also want to say that death is not a retirement from life so much as taking life to the next level. For 80-something years my uncle practiced and played in the minor leagues, and now he's moved up to the majors.
As he was declining, we have been praying for him. Now, I trust, he will pray for us. He has joined the cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). Not only is he now playing in the majors, but he's sitting in the stands, cheering for us, as we keep practicing and playing in the minor league. Uncle John, pray for us! Especially pray for me, so I can be as good an influence on little Zachary James as you were on me!
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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