Posts
The past few days have been immersed in death. My friend and good client for 15 years, Art Stout passed this life of cancer on Saturday morning. He retired from Intel after 35 years building their fabrication plants all over the world. The next month he found out he had pervasive cancer. He was given six months and made it two years, long enough to build a comfortable house for his wife in a secure, gated community. A few weeks before his death we had long heart to heart about his spiritual life and readiness to stand before God. He went in peace.
Fr. Christo Christoff, a retired Bulgarian priest passed away last night. He (and his wife) were always kind and gracious every time we saw them. They are what every couple could aspire to be in old age. I don't know what his wife will do without him.
My friend Gary is in and out of conciousness now. Fr. Damian and I and Bill Gould baptized, chrismated and communed him Sunday afternoon. Gary wept. I stopped by to see him yesterday after work and he woke up for a few seconds, opened his eyes and whispered, "Steve, my friend, my friend..." then went back to sleep. We will be arranging a 24 hour vigil soon, and members of our Mission will sit and read the Psalter until he passes this life.Please pray for a peaceful, painless ending to the life of another good man.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
My poor mind doesn't quite know what to say, either to you or to God.
But my heart does, and is saying it all.
God be with you, Steve. This was my year last year--19 friends and family members departed this life in '09. It takes a terrible toll on you, to feel so immersed in mortality all the time; as if we needed more proof that death is unnatural, and not part of what God intended for us...
My prayers (and heart) go out to you. Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Thank you--I needed to see this. I thought I was having a challenging morning, and then I read your post, and was reminded of what truly matters. Words fail me, but be assured of my prayers for Art, for Fr. Christo, for Gary, and for you. Glory to God!
I agree with Larry. I was having a very busy morning getting ready for our house blessing and home school. This certainly puts things in perspective. I know you are carrying a great burden and my prayers are for both of you.
I will pray for Gary that he prepares to exit this world.
And may God remember you in His Kingdom for bringing the Gospel to him and others.
Keeping Gary, (and you) in prayer. Lord have mercy...
I'm not sure how appropriate this is, and forgive me, truly, if I cause offense.
When I read the comment about the Psalter being read over Gary until his repose, that warmed my heart. I know such circumstances do not seem to bring about such warm feelings as this but I can think of nothing better than to have others of the Body of Christ chanting the Psalter over a man on his way to the Lord.
Forgive me if anything I have said is unsettling for others or causes offense. I will pray for you all during this trying time.
John
Lord have mercy. Thank God for these two good Christian deaths and for the Christian preperation for Gary.
Really hard for us left behind. My love and small prayers.
I've been praying for Gary since you first mentioned him and I will keep praying for him. I've been advised to prune the living now and then but never the departed. Although I do believe from what you've said he'll be praying for us sooner and for longer.
Lord, have mercy. Memory eternal. +
Thank you all for your prayers.
John, no offense at all, what could possibly be "bad" having friends keep vigil with you and read the Psalter as you face your death? One of the things Gary remembers is when I sat thinking he was unconcious and I just read the Bible to him while he "slept". I hope my friends will do the same for me if I am in his situation some day. Looking in the rooms of the nursing home, there are dozens of people who have NO one and would love to have someone sit with them and read, I'm sure. That would be a ministry in itself for someone.
I am praying for you and these dear families. Gary's story has been very moving. Thank you for sharing it.
(((((Steve)))))) God is with you.
Post a Comment