Two weeks ago I told you about the sudden death of an old friend. Jim died April 27 at age 85. I didn’t tell you about the death of another old friend who died March 4 under hospice care. Jack was 88. Now that I’ve gone this far, I might as well tell you that another friend died unexpectedly last Saturday night. Gene was 75.
88. 85. 75.
Death is trending downward, and I don’t like it. I’m 75.
I now have more dead friends than living friends. I’m guessing many of you are in the same boat. Death sucks. Verily, verily, we don’t always get what we want.
Remember the 1983 movie The Big Chill?
A group of pals from the University of Michigan gather for an unhappy reunion in Beaufort, South Carolina. Their dear friend Alex was dead by suicide. Alex was thirty-something.
The pals gloomily sat, scattered on the pews waiting to exit the church behind the casket, when strains of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” drifted from the organ.
Tear-stained faces smiled. Chests sighed. Heads nodded.
They got it: No one gets what they want all the time.
It takes time to learn that. It takes grace and grit to take what you get and make the best of it. Like the death of a friend.
A song saved the day for those Wolverine boomers. It was the right song. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” would not have done it.
I went to church last Saturday for a Celebration of Life.
Georgiann played “Fanfare for the Common Man” on the piano. Perfect. Gene was common, as in “salt of the earth.”
The congregation stood and sang: Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see.
Mary Anne and Than sang:
Oh, children, let’s go down,
let’s go down, come on down.
Oh, children, let’s go down,
down to the river to pray.
Wanda sang:
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord
Lead me home
The pastor blessed us, one and all.
And then we hugged Gene’s four sons.
When you stand with brothers and sisters in their hour of need, you get what you need.
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See Paula’s “Eternal Sentry” on the home page. Posted May 7, 2023
