Light That Gives Life

The fall has flown by and now we are in the middle of Advent. Christmas is coming soon and the joy of seeing family and celebrating again the birth of Christ is upon us. While busy, this is an exciting time of year full of joy, of happiness, and sometimes sorrow.

I speak of sorrow because another local pastor and friend recently and unexpectedly died. David was a sweet man who loved God, loved his family, and loved God's church. He served an independent Christian church but was always looking for the interdependence of our faith. While I only knew him one year, his presence and our time during this year is memorable and has left a mark. We worked together ecumenically on many things and sometimes we even talked about our differences. However, what was special about David was not the difference but the love of the similar. We both loved God first and tried to share that love with others...even other ministers!

While the absence of David does bring sorrow, it also brings great joy and happiness. He was a man who lived what he believed and did the best he could. He was by no means perfect...he would tell you this...but he was genuine. He loved me and many others irrespective of our warts or shortcomings. His life was lived brightly and the light of his life that originated with Jesus Christ still shines in the light of my life, in the light of the lives of many others, and the light of his memory. He will be sorely missed but not forgotten!