February 13, 2019
My New Friend,
The e-mail that you wrote in January was encouraging and hopeful. You thanked me for thinking of you and your family (“Christmas and Beyond”) and expressed hope that you would soon be healthy and back to a normal routine. A week or two later you wrote again and mentioned driving past Highland Way, wanting to stop in to say “hi,” but didn’t because you needed to get to your daughter’s house. “Next time I’ll call,” you wrote, “bring lunch or we can meet somewhere to talk, share more of our stories, faith journeys, and over a meal we’ll get to know each other better.”
In my reply I wrote, “I’m looking forward to that. Continue to get well.”
Now, I’ve been told that you died this morning.
My sadness pales in comparison to that of your grieving family, beloved friends and members of the church community—they already knew the person I looked forward to getting to know. Nonetheless, you touched my life, a kindred soul and fellow sojourner; a man who shared his faith in a brave and thoughtful manner. With you there was no preaching or instructing, you didn’t need to say what was evident, just the simple truth—this is who I am.
In our last conversation I mentioned, with some discomfort and embarrassment, that I often wrestle and struggle in my faith. “Me too,” you replied, “but I know God loves me.”
Thank you, Ken. Your family and friends are in my prayers.
Roger
by 
Another of God’s blessings that you and your new friend reached out and touched each other during his last week’s of this life. In such mysterious miraculous moments we can glimpse how we are all part of the holy whole, and that we already know each other at the most basic level……. all of us children of God. Sadness and sorrow intertwined with gratitude and joy for these blessed gifts of life and love.
Colette,
Your comments are appreciated. The unfairness of life and the short amount of time we have are both often taken for granted by me until tragedy occurs or someone close to me dies–then I perk up to reality. “We are all part of the holy whole…” thank you for reminding me.
Roger
I had no idea until this post who were writing about in Christmas and Beyond – a special family – my heart aches for them – and God truly does love them.
Gloria,
Thank you for reading and commenting. Anonymity was by choice in Christmas and Beyond, sadly no longer necessary.
Roger
Like Ken, I too feel loved by God even though the nature of God is a great mystery to me. Whatever that nature, I believe Ken’s soul now resides there. I am comforted by this thought.
Dona,
However we say it, write it, or imagine it, and whatever It’s nature, I too find comfort in your thought.
Roger
We all too often say basically and do the same thing, i.e., “I’ll stop by”, or “We must get together soon”, or :I just don’t have time this week”. And, what dopes that get us? A lost friend by either death or moving away or just gives up. I am glad God didn’t react as we humors do.
Bud,
As soon as I finish this sentence I’m going to make the call, the one “I’ll make later.”
Thanks for the reminder,
Roger
I find it amazing how deeply some one can touch us without really knowing them or spending time with them. It’s the quality of the time spent even if just moments, those encounters taken by surprise that can mean so much. This morning an older homeless man in the alley walked by me singing a Spanish song as I was opening my garage door. We smiled at each other and he said, Buenos Dias. I said, Buenos Dias. He lifted my heart and I have a feeling he knew he did. God’s messengers are everywhere, especially when we’re not looking. I believe Ken’s love of God spread far and wide.
Jo Anne,
Buenos Dias! Lambert, a friend, once told me he saw the face of Jesus in the poor on the streets of New Delhi. We can safely assume The Great Mystery will appear in infinite ways, and when we listen and see, setting biases aside, we may catch a glimpse of magic!
Thanks for sharing this.
Roger
I know the feeling of missing a last opportunity to be with someone who is (or may have become) dear to me. Of course we have no way of knowing. In my pastoral role at my church I have ample opportunity to pray with people before an operation or during a hospitalization. Your story reminds me that I should respond promptly when I get the call. Thank you.
Bill,
There are times when I’m too cautious, demur, and embrace a self-serving comfort zone of detachment when I know, and feel in my soul that engagement offers so much more. Thank you for the reminder–for reading and commenting as well.
Roger
Your new friend, the carpenter, came into your life at a time when you needed him for repairs. How ironic, the builder, the repairer, the restorer and the psychologist, a builder, a restorer and repairer as well, both with doubts in faith, found each other. Kindred souls and fellow sojourners helping one another traverse the crookeds and the straights in this life no matter how brief. Blessings and continue your good work.
Thank you, Bette. We both recognized the ironic and random threads that wove through our meeting–something we’d hoped to pursue in further conversations, and in a sense how ironic that this was not to occur. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Roger