Today I marvel at our Awesome Lord’s perfect timing. During our recent Polar Vortex that sent temps shivering into the sub-zero range throughout the country I decided it was time for a major Office Purge.
Mind you this was long long overdue. And I confess that there are portions of my office that seem just too emotionally charged to tackle. For example that harmless little box of envelopes that my mother kept in the cupboard by the kitchen door. When she passed away in late September 2008 I ended up with it where it stayed untouched mostly out of fear.
What could possibly be in there, her innermost secrets? I dared not disturb them. Especially since I haven’t been willing or able to even begin to unearth such mysteries from my father’s passing three years before my mother, almost to the day.
Deep breath. Slowly I began peeling back layers of history. Envelopes, paper, cards…but wait! What’s this? A letter hand addressed to my father from New Jersey. From Casey!
What a treasure! A 2002 letter from my father’s BFF (Best Friend Forever) from World War II.
Amongst the group pictures of his handsome family Casey mentions that he will be turning 76 next month. My first thought: is he still with us? Seeing as they both joined the army at 18, this year would mark the 70th year of their friendship.
So I set out to discover what’s become of my father’s special buddy. Though an Internet search proved fruitless I turned to Facebook and Lo and behold, I found not Casey but his son Bob (named in honor of my father Harry Robert perhaps?). Because I had changed my profile picture to include this timeless treasure featured here he knew exactly who I was and responded immediately…
Bob confirmed that yes inded his legendary father Casey—along with his lovely wife—were both alive & well & living in Jersey. Praise God & Hallelujah!
Although it appears that a physical meeting on the Jersey shore is not in the future for us (who are both dealing with the ravages of time and disability) I am delighted to report that their friendship transcends mere earthly barriers. Somehow I think that my father would agree that he and Casey “shared something special and rare in our friendship that made it ‘lasting.’” Amen!
Thank You Lord for allowing us mere mortals to catch a glimpse in a mirror dimly of eternity though our friendships here on this terrestrial ball called Earth. And may we not fear the future but press forward boldly to discover the love that truly passes all understanding.
1 Cor 13:12 NIV
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
