Good Monday morning...
… and today I am reflecting on a good friend who turns 65 years old and is living in a new environment, under new conditions, and with a vulnerable, but promising, outlook. He and his wife moved to Michigan at the beginning of February, she died at the beginning of March, and now, he is navigating life as a widower.
Our friendship began in January of 2015, the day I started working at Hospice of the Valleys. We seemed to hit it off right away, finding opportunities to collaborate on our work, enjoy lunches together at a few favorite spots, and eventually living on the same island in Canyon Lake! He and his wife became Lisa and my friends for all the lake life activities, especially pickleball and boating. It was a weird and wonderful season for us, living as neighbors for the past six years!
His talent for playing the guitar was something that I got to enjoy sporadically, sometimes serving as his “roadie” when he would do events for some of the facilities we served, sometimes when he’d fill in for leading our worship when Dave would be gone on a Sunday morning, and sometimes when he would just be practicing at home. Whenever he played, I knew it was a gift that he used for the good of others. I am happy to report that his guitar playing will be a major part of his grief journey, divinely arranged for such a time as this. He is playing at a folk music festival near his new home this Thursday. I pray that it goes very well for him.
More than his talent, his loving presence as a hospice chaplain, his companionship on morning walks, and his deep devotion to God, his family, and his many friendships are what I miss the most. He played a major role in my walk with God and in unpacking challenges during our routine morning walks (6 days a week for at least the last couple of years). It’s true what they say, “the only constant in life is change” and knowing that God had His hand in their move, her graduation to Heaven, and his life going forward gives me comfort in this change.
Happy 65th birthday Pastor Bill!
For His glory,
Pastor Mike