Mentoring Mondays: ...postponed because.......

As you and I both know,

there is a hard truth that cannot be avoided...

...dying is a part of living...

        Sooner or later, each one of us will be stepping through, as the ancient Christian Celt's called it, "...the thin veil."  We're not here forever...but we will be somewhere forever.  If I may take the risk of saying so...love does win!  :-)

        Toward the end of this past week, my 57yo nephew, Rick Peterson, with great grace, slipped through that thin veil up in Caldwell, ID.  He has been increasingly suffering with esophageal cancer...a brutal way to slip through.  But...at 6:01am...Mountain Time this past Thursday he quietly slipped through...and saw that great light guiding him home.

        Last week, when one of my neices called at that early hour to tell us, my first thoughts were, "He is now home, free of the impairments and difficulties that he has lived with all his life...whole...complete...healed...and fully welcome to be all he was originally designed to be."

        Obviously, such news recreates the schedule for the next few days.  If I've missed alerting any one, I apologize now...just let me know.

        Judy (...who is already in Arizona with some of her family through next Sunday...) and I will rondezvous up in Idaho for three days, mid week, with members of my family.  Rick's sisters, our beloved neices, have asked if I would do his service, to be done at graveside (...his request...since he loved the outdoors...), where his remains will be buried in the same plot as his mother's.

        This picture was taken this past winter, when back in Caldwell, we gathered for my sister's funeral at her church.  You can see that Rick was a giant of a man, but not just physically.  :-) 

        And...whoa!...first time any of us had seen him in a suit...it was usually bibbed jeans and a baseball cap and an old jean jacket.  Out of respect for his Mom, he told me, he wanted to get a good suit...even if it cost him a bundle (...which it did...and his bundle was probably not very big...).

        Rick already knew his cancer was going to take him out, so he quietly told me about his fine suit, "I got it for now.  And I got it for 'then.'"

        Then is now...........

        With all his serious limitations that life had imposed upon him, he had a kind heart for doing good and knowing right from wrong...a lesson from his life I will take with me.  I am grateful he suffers no more...not just physically...but also emotionally, mentally, and socially.  Good news...he's finally free to be.

        Been pondering on this Sunday all alone in our home.  The moments have been restorative and truly welcome...total quiet this afternoon...except for the birds outside scrapping for their place on the bird feeder...the breeze in the trees...the soft sound of the wind chimes we've had since 1998 to be reminded of our goddaughter who also slipped through that thin veil in August of that year, 104 days after her wedding.

        There has been no TV or music...working from time to time on a writing project for a new friend...reading a little in prep for a welcome lunch tomorrow with a good friend.  Spent some time taking the luxury of just watching the clouds drift by.  Reflecting.  Hoping.  Praying.  Grieving a bit over several issues, not just in losing another family member this year.

With a quiet, sacred profoundness...it's all been good...sincerely.

Wondering.  Trusting.  Grateful to be alive...........

..."see" you next week here on Mentoring Mondays...

 

Comments

[Chris Rumley]

Wes, So sorry to hear of your families loss. Tough year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Angi]

I love you. Sounds like you had a Quaker Sunday. Esophageal cancer sucks." Fully welcome, and able, to be all that he was created to be." Those are words I'll sit with for a while tonight.

[George]

Wes,

Sorry to hear of your loss, but encouraged by your musings in regards to him and life. His grace is sufficient for those of us left here to expand His kingdom.

[Pablo]

Wes I stand with you during this time in prayer and heart. Moments like these present us with an opportunity and I know you know what I am talking about...love you lots. Pablo

[Rich Thompson]

This brought tears to my eyes as I read it, knowing all the more about the brevity of life, even tho it may be many, many years. Blessings on you as you walk through this week; my prayers are with you!

[Phil & Vivian Manly]

God bless you as you minister to your family at this poignant time of gain/loss.
Our prayers will attend your Idaho time even though it won't be on Sunday!
Phil & Vivian

[Steve Thulson]

May God manifest his loving presence for your family's comfort and hope, Wes. Thanks, as always, for your grace-filled and wise reflection. Steve and Darlene Thulson