Victory in Jesus

My grandpa passed away on Sunday night after fighting various infections for about a month. I left Maine yesterday morning and drove all day to arrive at about midnight last night. The funeral service was this morning and there is a fairly large memorial service on Friday afternoon.

The service this morning was very special because it was private - only family, the staff of Keswick, and the men in the addiction recovery center attended. it was held in the little white chapel by the lake that my grandpa loved so much, and it was a testimony both to his love for the Lord and to his love for his ministry. We ended the time at the graveyard by singing "Victory in Jesus," a hymn that the men in the addiction recovery program love to sing, and a very fitting hymn for the time.

"I heard about a mansion, he has built for me in glory,
and I heard about the streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea,
about the angels singing, and the old redemption story,
and some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory."

It's really hard for me to put into words who my grandpa was, both as a public figure and as a grandfather. Someone the other day asked me if I was close with my grandpa, and my answer was an immediate "yes!" But it wasn't a closeness that came with spending lots of time together, it was a closeness that came from something deeper than that. Talking with my uncle tonight he suggested that it was grandpa's deep, abiding relationship with the Lord that permeated his relationships with others and allowed so many of us to feel so close. He was holy in what he did. He was a righteous man.

I will miss him in the little things. I will miss him in not hearing his voice when I call on the phone, in not being able to get up early and walk to breakfast with him, in not laughing with him at his dry jokes, and maybe most of all in not being hugged by him and not hearing him say that he loves me. It is easy to love someone who loves you so selflessly and completely, and it's because of his complete love that this is both hard and good.

This blog isn't dead...

... I'm merely in Jackman, Maine (think - almost Quebec) for the summer and rarely have access to any form of electronic communication.

My grandfather's situation is still critical, and recovery is looking very unlikely. God's plan is perfect as is his timing, but it is hard to be in such a remote place when my family is hurting. I'd appreciate prayer.

I just got back a few days ago from an 8 day sea kayaking trip to Moscungus Bay in Maine. It was gorgeous, and an incredible experience.

I should resume regular blogging sometime in the beginning of August.