Jealous of death

I know, you might be saying, what is the matter with her? What kind of morbid post title is that?!?!? Allow me to explain....

Last night, I went to the visitation of a very dear friend of my (and my parent's) family. He was the father of the pastor of the church that I attended as a child, and my parents still attend. He had passed away just this past weekend at the age of 87. He was an important part of me beginning to learn about a relationship with Jesus as a child, and those things that he said will always stick with me. I can remember going to his house behind the then church building and he and his wife would be there and read to and teach us.

The visitation was a great opportunity to see a lot of familiar (if not grown up) faces of people that I grew up in that church with. There were a lot of other people as well that were the "grown ups" back then, that I was able to catch up with and relate to on somewhat of a different level.

Lendall (his name) was at the front of the room in his casket, in his suit, with his pocket watch with the chain wrapped around his hand; engraved on the watch was "World's Best Dad". There were poster boards plastered with pictures from his life, both as a young man and growing into an elderly gentleman. They even had his little cart that he used to get around in during his later days; from what I hear he could really get around in that thing!

I was closely studying all the different pictures, some of the pictures even showed the church building that I grew up in, and the pastor's kids from the way I remember them as kids, and it really took me on a trip down memory lane. Then I looked over at Lendall. In every one of his pictures he was wearing such a genuine loving smile, which was characteristic of him. He was a man that had a relationship with the Lord that was lived out everyday of his life that I had known him. I admit that I had lost touch with him (including many others at that church) as I grew into a woman, got married, and started a family of my own. I had even seen him last summer outside in his cart as we were in that same area of town for the fall parade. But looking at his body, I was just overwhelmed with the thought: Lendall's not there. His physical body is there, but HE is not there. Lendall, the soul, spirit, ACTUAL person of Lendall, has gone to his permanent home with the Lord. This body laying here, that looks like Lendall, lacked any resemblance of the happy, loving, God following man that he was. It was just the physical shell of the person that once used to be there.

I was just amazed as I left the visitation, even just looking at my own hands and arms, that this BODY isn't ME. Right now, I consist of spirit, soul, and body. But the BODY part of me is only temporary. I am designed to be in relationship with Jesus, with all of what I am right now. But eventually I will leave this earth, and all that will be left behind is this shell of what everyone will remember me to look like. I will be able to continue on in the glorious wonderful relationship that I have already begun on this earth; with this body it is an imperfect relationship, but eventually I will be made perfect.

I had an interesting thought as I stood there looking at Lendall. As I thought about where he was, maybe even what he was doing, right at that moment.......I almost felt a little jealous. But I also felt my Spirit rejoicing with him.

Thanks for the impact you had on the beginning days of my life Lendall. I look forward to seeing you again.