Sunday, December 26, 2010
Pat Coughlin God rest ye merry gentleman
Last evening after a long day of celebrating Christmas I came home and had 2 messages on my answering machine. They were from a fellow deacon from our church asking that I call her. I just assumed it was a neighbor in crisis situation or a deacon scheduling conflict for Sunday offering. I returned the call only to find out that the chair of our Deacons for the past 2 years had just died suddenly that day of an apparent heart attack or aneurysm. Christmas morning December 25 2010. I hung up the phone and just sat down and didn't believe the words that I heard. I told Hazel the news and at that point I couldn't hold back a little emotional breakdown. I just could not believe it. Yes there was a neighbor in crisis and a deacon scheduling conflict all rolled into one big day. A mom and her four children had just lost her husband and their father.
Today I went to church and just kind of felt awkward walking into the building just kind of hoping that I had a bad dream and that I would see Pat there in his obnoxious Christmas tie talking about the Detroit Lions game that day. No such luck. There were several people who still looked like they had the same idea and hope as me. This just could not be real. At the beginning of the service it was announced that Pat had passed away that previous morning and it started to sink in. Tears just started to flow and the BIG WHY LORD? filled my head.
Before becoming a Deacon I never met Pat. I had seen him at church and new he was a Deacon but never spoke a word to him. After I became a Deacon he kind of warmed up to me and was always talking to me about why I was in the commissioned pastor program and was curious about the large textbooks I was reading. I think the thing that impressed me most about Pat was that as I became more comfortable and vocal as a Deacon about my beliefs and convictions he really started to support me and encourage me to become a leader. He always mentioned to me that he thought I would make a great successor to him as chairman of the Deacons. This past year when I had thoughts of quitting as a Deacon he put his hand on my shoulder and told me to stick with it. "We need more people like you" I just kind of laughed and shrugged it off, but it meant and still means a whole lot to me. I know Pat was a huge sports fan and I like the idea of us meeting as Deacons and having a black armband with PC written on it in his memory.
Back to the WHY LORD? Why would God call somebody home to heaven at this stage of their life. I am sure their are all sorts of correct answers like he's in a better place and this is just part of his time line, but it still makes me want to scream at God WHY? Why take a 39 year old man who just celebrated his 15Th wedding anniversary at this time of his life. What could be the positive benefit for his family in the future. Every Christmas will serve as a reminder of the wonderful husband and father they lost.
Even though Pat's official Deacon role was ending he was becoming even a greater Deacon in the Wayland community. Dealing with children as a Principal and becoming involved with the poor and potential homeless families. I listened to the stories he would tell and see the compassion growing inside of him. Why God would you take such a passionate Christian who has a position in the Wayland community to be a representative of Christ even though he works for a public institution which frowns on displaying Christian values because of political pressures. It just seems unfair.
I was praying with two friends after church for Pats family. None of us could understand the reasoning behind his death. None of us have really comprehended the finality of it as of yet. I know this week during the visitations and funeral that the tears will really flow and the questions about why will still not be answered. There will be great and truthful answers given. I know the consolation of him being in Heaven is amazing and why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. But like some bad Hollywood movie I just want to look up and say "God are you sure about this decision?" Could you give us a mulligan?
Today I went to church and just kind of felt awkward walking into the building just kind of hoping that I had a bad dream and that I would see Pat there in his obnoxious Christmas tie talking about the Detroit Lions game that day. No such luck. There were several people who still looked like they had the same idea and hope as me. This just could not be real. At the beginning of the service it was announced that Pat had passed away that previous morning and it started to sink in. Tears just started to flow and the BIG WHY LORD? filled my head.
Before becoming a Deacon I never met Pat. I had seen him at church and new he was a Deacon but never spoke a word to him. After I became a Deacon he kind of warmed up to me and was always talking to me about why I was in the commissioned pastor program and was curious about the large textbooks I was reading. I think the thing that impressed me most about Pat was that as I became more comfortable and vocal as a Deacon about my beliefs and convictions he really started to support me and encourage me to become a leader. He always mentioned to me that he thought I would make a great successor to him as chairman of the Deacons. This past year when I had thoughts of quitting as a Deacon he put his hand on my shoulder and told me to stick with it. "We need more people like you" I just kind of laughed and shrugged it off, but it meant and still means a whole lot to me. I know Pat was a huge sports fan and I like the idea of us meeting as Deacons and having a black armband with PC written on it in his memory.
Back to the WHY LORD? Why would God call somebody home to heaven at this stage of their life. I am sure their are all sorts of correct answers like he's in a better place and this is just part of his time line, but it still makes me want to scream at God WHY? Why take a 39 year old man who just celebrated his 15Th wedding anniversary at this time of his life. What could be the positive benefit for his family in the future. Every Christmas will serve as a reminder of the wonderful husband and father they lost.
Even though Pat's official Deacon role was ending he was becoming even a greater Deacon in the Wayland community. Dealing with children as a Principal and becoming involved with the poor and potential homeless families. I listened to the stories he would tell and see the compassion growing inside of him. Why God would you take such a passionate Christian who has a position in the Wayland community to be a representative of Christ even though he works for a public institution which frowns on displaying Christian values because of political pressures. It just seems unfair.
I was praying with two friends after church for Pats family. None of us could understand the reasoning behind his death. None of us have really comprehended the finality of it as of yet. I know this week during the visitations and funeral that the tears will really flow and the questions about why will still not be answered. There will be great and truthful answers given. I know the consolation of him being in Heaven is amazing and why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. But like some bad Hollywood movie I just want to look up and say "God are you sure about this decision?" Could you give us a mulligan?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Drinking Again
Drinking Again
Welcome back my old friend
Where have you been?
Drinking Again
You have a story to tell
So belly on up to the bar
Drinking again
Life is a tragic comedy
And I'm the star
Last time I saw you
You were on a wagon riding off into the sunset
Last time I saw you
You were high and dry
Last time I saw you
You left me for a wife and family
Last time I saw you
You talked about some power on high
Drinking again
Welcome back my old friend
Where have you been?
Drinking again
When life hand you lemons
I'll give you whiskey and gin
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
