Atom“Coffee with the Angels”
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, for in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…” 2 Corinthians 5:1-2
When I walked past his room at Emmanuel Care Center, the room was dark but I could see him leaning way back in his chair, feet up, watching television. Usually he called out to me when he saw me walking past on my way to visit someone else, “Hey Reverend,” he would call, “Where are you going today?” Dave had been a resident some years, a combination of mental illness and debilitating strokes. Now, word was that he was also showing symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. It had been a long day…it was past five o’clock and I had thought about heading home, but on impulse I leaned into the room. “Dave,” I said, “I’m going to get a cup of coffee from the coffee shop (Go figure) and come in to visit. Would you like me to bring you one, too?” He nodded.
I brought the coffee and we chatted. We talked about his family and alma mater, St. Cloud State, and about his various vocations. We talked about his time in the choir at First Lutheran; we talked about fishing and tennis and about drinking too much coffee. He was a bit more somber than some times when we had visited. I mentioned it. “I’m supposed to be depressed, but I don’t think so,” he said. Well, there’s lots you love that you are no longer able to do,” I said. “That might make me discouraged, too. David, is there anything I can pray about with you?” “Yes,” he said, “Pray that I can get better and get out of here.” I thought to myself, “That isn’t likely at this point,” but I prayed for courage and strength and healing and for God’s peace. I rose to leave and took his hand. “I have enjoyed our visit, David. Until next time…the Lord be with you.” “And also with you…thanks, Reverend.”
The next morning Vicki Marthaler, chaplain at Emmanuel called me. “David died during the night…it was an aneurism…we are all in shock.”
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed,” says Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. How true. How painful to those left behind and how wonderful for those who inherit the promise of Jesus. As we enter into the season of Lent we will begin with the truth that pains us and we would rather not remember, but cannot avoid, “Remember, O man, O woman, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” And we will conclude the season in Easter with the truth of the resurrection, “He is Risen. He is not here…and because He lives, we shall live also.” When David said, “Pray that I get better and get out of here,” I did not at the moment imagine how the Lord might answer that prayer. But ultimately the healing belongs to Jesus and ultimately the healing is to the place that is our true home – with our God.
“We are a people of hope and not fear.” I know President Obama meant it to rally us as Americans, but he knows, as we know, that our ultimate hope – the hope that conquers all fear – is in the resurrected Lord Jesus who has made us his own.
Rest in peace David, and John, and Edsel, and Jim, and Shawn, and Ruth, and Barbara…and all those whom we miss and love…until we join you for a cup of coffee with the angels.
Hoping with you,
Pastor Wade
P.S. My new favorite Christian singer/song writer is a folk singer by the name of David M. Bailey who just happens to be a twelve-year survivor of brain cancer. If you want to be inspired with hope, check out his story and his music at davidmbailey.com
“Someday you’ll cross this holy river
And when you reach the other shore
Have a cup of coffee with the angels
You won’t be in a hurry…anymore” David M. Bailey – “Anymore”
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