Leaving a Mark

Another gentle and wiser than I follower of Jesus passed through the gates of heaven today. My dear friend Robin told me about Paul's departure. She included in her email the entry from Paul's wife blog:

Our prayers have been answered, Paul went to be with his Father this evening at 7:45 p.m. We will be making arrangements tomorrow and update you with a later blog. 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of our Lord."

I sent to Robin the following reflection:

Reading the last few entries on Bonnie’s [Paul's wife] blog reminds me of how close we are to life sometimes when we are near to death. Does that make sense? The gallant fight, the courage to not give up and the faith to trust in God in our severe failings, the pain of letting go of each others’ hands – whether we are the one on the journey toward eternity, or the ones left behind for now.

How will it be when the Lord takes me? I can think of no better way than the way Paul departed – surrounded by loved ones who passed him forward to the One Who Loves Us Most.

Paul left a deep mark for the good.

I was thinking through with God yesterday about a personal one-sentence mission statement for myself. So far I’ve come up with this: To be a difference in other people’s lives by following Jesus Christ.

I think I should hold on to that one for a while. If that is what I can leave with others when I take my ticket home, it would be pretty good thing.

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He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - From the Old Testament book of the prophet Micah 6:8

University students in Compassion International's Thailand Leadership Development Program; Dan at Compassion supported children's hostel in Thailand; Pam in rural Yunnan, China.



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