Faithful

Today I will announce to the congregation the death of one of our sweetest members. Last week I got a call from Lynn, who along with Jenny, is providing pastoral support during pastoral care worker Beth's absence. Lynn and I have been visiting one of our elderly women who has been slowly dying due to the failure of her lungs. She continued to be positive to the end and believed God was with her.

She had been able to stay at home with a team of support but was now in the hospital. When I arrived it was obvious that the end was near. Even though she had oxygen each breath was very laboured and she was no longer responsive.

At her bedside was her husband of 62 years. They were so young when they got married that his father had to give his written consent. Obviously these teen marriages just don't last. He has been incredibly supportive through the illness despite a fracture in his back which made any movement uncomfortable and he too is on oxygen. In fact, at times it was a challenge to figure out whose oxygen lines we were dodging. And he can be a tad gruff.

We got to know him over the past couple of months. To say that he didn't share his wife's faith is putting it mildly. When we first came he immediately departed for parts unknown elsewhere in the house. Then it was just the kitchen, from which he would sometime add his thoughts to conversations. Eventually he stayed in the room, although pulling out a bible was akin to pulling the fire alarm -- he was gone like a shot!

I think that ultimately we trusted and respected one another. Does he have much use for the Christian faith? Nope. Has he been faithful to the love of a lifetime? Without a doubt. Behind the emergency room curtain I put my hand on his shoulder and commended him on being a good husband. There was a glimmer of tears despite his tough exterior.

And he did see the Christian community in action and perhaps realized we weren't so bad. Lynn even made him rice pudding!

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