A Life Well Lived

Hi friends,

This weekend has been very movie-esque for me.  Let me explain:

The memorial service was this weekend.  And in true movie fashion, it rained all morning.  Isn't that just the way?  Talk about setting the mood.

Then there's some kind of grand gesture, or event, or something where people have to work hard together or sacrifice, or plead for the impossible to happen.  Or in our case, have the city of Canton give the ok for us to use the new building, even though it doesn't meet fire safety codes because it was one of Pastor Mike's last wishes.  This was all preluded by scores of people working together to put the sanctuary together in time for the service.

Now, we knew there would be a good turnout, but what we found was a big, new sanctuary that didn't have enough seating for all the people who wanted to pay respect to this man.  And after many men teamed up to add more chairs in the aisles, there were still people standing in the back.

Beautiful tributes were paid to his life, and what his vision for the church really was- the people.  And above all, to his love for the Lord and the purpose He gave him.  There were tears, and laughter, and lots of love.

And there was singing.  Beautiful singing.  And I think that if Mike had seen the sanctuary bursting with people, and heard the verses of Amazing Grace echoing and filling up the room with hundreds of voices, he would have thought that aside from a person coming to Christ, it was the most beautiful thing the church had ever seen.

I don't usually think of myself as a megalomaniac, and I know for a fact that Mike wasn't one, but I hope that I can have just a fraction of the impact that he had.  I don't know how God wants to use me yet, but I pray that I will be effective somehow.

Ah, and so to wrap up the movie-esque day, as we left the church after the service, what should happen, but that the sun peeks out from behind the cloud?  How's that for the conclusion of a film?

However, I do have one thing to ask.  Do we think that Mike would have been more pleased to see that sanctuary as full as it was on Saturday, for him?  Or the next day, for Him?

Just a little something for us to think about until next time...

Aim