To my friend Steve...Goodbye until we meet again...

For some strange reason Steve thought I might have "fun" with this photo...hehehe

Through the years we have had the honour and privilege of walking on this journey of life with friends.

One such family had slightly more kids that we, 12 to be exact.

The last few years has meant we would get together weekly, for our "NCIS" night.  The kids would play, and we would watch some great TV together....have some goodies and a few laughs.

We looked forward to it every week.

The father of this clan, Steve, has been a good friend.  Possessing Mr. Fix-it talent that I could only dream of, he has been a blessing to our family...from installing our kitchen cupboards, to going with me a a 90 minute drive to check out a car that my daughter wanted to buy.

When he was first diagnosed with cancer, we were all stunned.  A Dad of 12 kids?  Cancer?  This is some type of joke.

But it was reality.  It hurt.

And it reminds each and every one of us of our own mortality.

In the midst of all of this journey....Steve died the way he lived.  Stoic.  Dignified.  With Faith that this is NOT the end.

I told him that he was teaching all of us.  His response to me was he "was learning himself".

Steve was focused:

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" -Philipians 3:13-14

So, once again we cling to these words:   

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

On Wednesday, September 24.....he passed from this life into the next.

And so what  do we hope and trust for?  Why do I know that I shall see my good friend Steve again?  It is found in Revelation 21:4 (The Message)

"I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”

Goodbye my friend.  Until we meet again....on that glorious day when God moves into the neighborhood.