Friends, Flowers, and a Funeral

Hey Folks,
It's amazing how a funeral can bring us all back to reality. My friend Rodney Bowling died two weeks ago. It's especially eye opening for me. Rodney and I graduated together from Brewer High School in 1981. We both went into the ministry. We both attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated about the same time.
Like most of us who claimed Rodney as one of our friends, I was surprised at the news. Many of us who went to school gathered at the funeral home and waited in line at least two hours to tell his wife and children how sorry we were. But here's a good question: Were we really sorry...or were those just the right words to say? I can tell you, we are sorry....we hate it for his wife and children....we hate what they'll face in the days ahead...we hate that his life was cut so short.
But, more than anything, we are shocked. Shocked, because we realize we could be next. Shocked, because we have come face to face with the ugly reality that we're all gonna die. I'd like to think I'm going to live till I'm 100 then die in my sleep. I like to imagine that I'll spend 50 or 60 years married to Crystal....that I'll grow old enjoying my children and grandchildren. But I, along with many of Rodney's friends, have had a reality check. We do care. We are sorry. But, more than anything, we are shocked.
How do we respond to such shock? Ignore it? Make light of it? Here's what happened on Friday after the funeral. Me and my two best friends from high school, Marty Feemster and Van Johnson, went and played golf together. That may not seem like much except for the fact we have never played golf together. In 46 years of life we have never spent most of one day together doing anything. Van even had to borrow a set of clubs. We played the last few holes under a Tornado Watch. We laughed, cut up, lost too many balls, and had more fun than I have had in a long time. Marty, Van, and myself were all friends with Rodney. His death has been a wake up call for us.
I can ignore or make light of the reality....or I can face it. I can determine I am going to live each day with purpose. I'm not going to coast. I'm going to enjoy my wife and children while I can. I'm going to appreciate people more than I have in the past. I'm going to play golf with my buddies more often. I'm going to live for Jesus in such a way that when I die, my family won''t have to wonder where I am. I'm going to live till I die.
I dropped in to visit my dad on the afternoon of the funeral. I'm not a big "hugger"...but that day, before I left I hugged him and told him I loved him. He told me he loved me too. Then said, "It's something to think about, son...you never know who could go first...could be me or you." That's reality.
Talk To You Later, Michael