Happy Father’s Day Sunday, friends!
I did not get my Saturday pondering written yesterday, though I did do some pondering.
So, here’s a rare Sunday edition.
The reason I didn’t get my writing done is that I spent my typical writing time getting ready to attend a memorial service for a man who became a dear friend to me over the past couple of years.
I met Larry Heard less than 2 years ago, but we just clicked. He was not quite the age of my parents, but he was only 3 years behind them.
Whether in person or on Facebook, whenever we interacted, I was encouraged.
Like me, he spent decades as a pastor and then as a Director of Missions. I initially thought maybe that was our connection point.
That was A connection point, but it was not THE connection point.
As I sat and listened as his memorial service yesterday, I realized that I was not so special.
It seems that Larry and I clicked because he was a clicker!
He made everyone feel special and valued—from his wife (of almost 65 years), Ann, to his children, grandchildren, friends, ministry colleagues, and every person who came into the hospital rooms where he spent the last 3 weeks of his life.
Or maybe it’s not that I’m not special, it’s that I’m not uniquely special.
He didn’t just make people FEEL special, he really saw every person AS special—loved by God and therefore loved by him because he wanted everybody to know and love Jesus.
My hymn yesterday morning was “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart.” As I read and sang before I started getting dressed for the service, I resonated with this stanza:
“Yes, on through life‘s long path,Still singing as ye go;From youth to age, by night and day,In gladness and in woe;Rejoice, rejoice,Rejoice, give thanks and sing!”
Through each chapter of my adult life, I’ve begun as one of the whipper snappers among my peers and stayed there until I was one of the seasoned veterans.
“From youth to age …”
I’ve needed mentors and I’ve mentored.
I’ve followed and I’ve led.
Heres what I desire for me and for you: that our “song” of rejoicing carries us through each “stanza” of life and that we learn how to see as special and valued every person with whom we come in contact.
And that when our friends and loved ones gather to remember us, they will remember how loved we made them feel.
Be amazing, my friend.
