Monday, June 27, 2011

life and death

There are some things you never get used to.  Most of those involve a life difficulty that causes pain to those you love and care about.  Yesterday evening I received word that a loved friend died suddenly.  He was by all accounts healthy, working to help his kids with some projects, and enjoying the joy of being a grandfather and husband.  Last night he was ushered in to the Holy of Holies to see the majesty of His Lord!  
No matter how of those notices I receive, I never get used to them.  In ministry you often get that call as a need to be there for the family.  There is no doubt it is a sacred trust to be present with a family during a season of loss.  Being twenty four hundred miles away doesn't soften the pain you feel for a family.  As I was thinking about my eight years of relationship with Rex England and his wife Valerie, I couldn't help but smile.  He was just a fun guy.  He loved his family.  He was crazy about his wife.  He was a great friend.  Rex was just fun.  
As his family and friends grieve his loss, I imagine most will say the same things about him.  There will be stories and reminders of how he impacted so many.  There will be a void in the England family for a guy who lived his life well.  The comfort and peace the family needs will come from the Holy Spirit.  That isn't a foreign thought the family though. They know in life and in death that God is still on the throne and will not abandon them.  Life and death.  Rex, you are loved and will be greatly missed.

2 comments:

  1. Rex was a person who was always present when there was a need or if he could help someone who was in need. He will indeed be missed.

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  2. My friend Rex was hard to miss. Big guy, big smile, bigger laugh, big love for Valerie, big faith, big big big heart. You would never know it but he had a grandbaby ; )

    We are all going to miss him so much.

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