Life.. in a blink

What a whirlwind.  What a suprise.  Not like a birthday gathering with 30 friends jumping out from behind closed doors.  No, not like that at all.  But, like a chilling suprise that was completely un-expected... hitting my gut...stealing my breath.. and cutting my heart.  My father, who was 68 years old, breathed his last breath August 1st, early in the morning.  After a walk with his laberdoodle Nellie.. he planned what he thought would be a fun afternoon of adventures with his girlfriend Linda.  They were on vacation in Traverse City; where after breakfast and walking the dog- he colapsed on the couch and suffered a heart attack, taking his last breath here on earth.  "I didn't hear anything, no cries for help- he didn't call out to me", Linda told us.  She saw him two minutes before.. she briefly left the room my father was in to use the restroom, and came back to a man who was un-responsive on the couch.  Surrounded by his maps and notebooks.  Scheduling a day of "fun" and "laughter".  Oh life.  How quickly things can change in the blink of an eye.

Sorry this is so serious.  It's not my intent to be so blunt.. so heavy.  But this is my reality now.. so I may as well be real and not sugar-coat one thing.  Life... what a precious gift.  What an enormous blessing that NO one deserves.  That no one can make up.. create.. or give.. but GOD. 

Our childhood was not picture perfect, even though one could think so from an outside perspective.  My father was an ER doctor.  He met my mother in the hospital where they worked together.  She was a nurse.  Definitely career choices that one would look up to.  Smart parents.  Hard workers.  Dedicated to providing for their family.  But, the reality of our lives was that there were many problems.  Heartache.  Tears.  Lies.  Divorce.  There is a deep, long story I could tell.. but there is no need.  The real need and urgancy to speak of is JESUS.

The reality is-- I miss my dad.  Even though it was hard.  Even though we were not as close as my mother and I.  He was my father.  Who God chose as my father here on earth.  He was so very generous.  He gave and gave and gave until it hurt.  He knew how to love us by helping us and giving us opportunities.  Without his support and love I would not be where I am today.  I would not know Jesus the way I do now, even if he never Jesus in that way that I do.

But I pray.. with all of the hope I can muster... that maybe he did.  Maybe in his last days, weeks, months, or minutes, he believed in God and called out to Jesus.  I HOPE.. and know it is possible!  That maybe my dad will look at my face in heaven and give me the hugest- hug ever.  That maybe he will come running up to me smiling and laughing.. full of joy.  I HOPE SO. 

And that is all I can do for now.  Remember how wonderful the times were, hope for his salvation, and cherish what a blessing he was in my life.  How he made a difference in all of our lives.  How he had the best intentions deep in his heart for us.  How he would keep helping me even  dispite some past/horrible choices on my part.  All of these beautiful things about his character are in the front of my mind as I sit here in his house in dis- belief.  It feels like a lie, or a joke.  A bad dream.  My father was not sick.  He did not seem old.  No one saw this coming.

But that is what life is like... no one knows what is coming.  In the bible the Lord speaks about his coming like a theif in the night- in the blink of an eye..

1 Thessalonians 5:2- For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

Revelation 16:15- Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

2 Peter 3:10- But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.


GOD is LOVE.  He gave us all life.  We truly do not deserve this beautiful gift.  What a glorious, amazing blessing from above.  I challenge you to LOVE like you have never loved before.  To love without boundries or restrictions.  To love without walls or fear.  TO love like you may never see that friend, husband, father, or sister again.  TO LOVE like it is all that matters.  That is what JESUS did for us.  He came to earth and died so that WE, God's children, could be cleansed of all darkness and sin.  So that God would look at us and only see Jesus.. because when we believe in him, we are HIDDEN in him.  Covered by HIS BLOOD.  Forgiven, and saved by his love, mercy and grace.  Only because he fulfilled God's wrath.. for us.  His death is what allows us to be free.  FREE for eternity to live with GOD our father.. the KING OF KINGS.. forever.

Rom 5:8-9 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

This is where I am.  Oh how I am so thankful to be here with my family in the states.. to love and share our memories together of our dad.  A man who so desired to do anything he could to help people.  Serving many years in the ER in Detroit as a Doctor, loving his children, his wives Debbie and Kathy, his brothers, and friends.  I know he will be greatly missed.  I know that I loved him.  I know that I know that I know.....  don't miss a moment.  This is it.. not a rehersal.  This is the real thing.