Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. (Psalm 116:15, NASB)
Last month I wrote a devotion about my good friend Charlie, who recently lost his battle with cancer at the age of 85. We spent over 10 years going to two Links Fellowships each week. He would pick me up every Friday morning to attend one of them. I can tell you that you really get to know someone over a 10-year period of telling and sharing stories, playing golf together, and eating at Dairy Queens along the way. We both had issues and struggles and warts, yet we loved each other anyway.
Charlie told me a story about sailing years ago that has a new meaning now. I shared this story at his funeral. Many in the audience were sailors as well as golfers. Charlie was a world-class sailor and actually sailed across the Atlantic in his younger days. His sailing career started at 10 years old. He was soon to start his first race, and he was scared. They would be out on the lake and not see the land for a short while. Charlie’s dad bent down and pinned a medal on his chest and said, “Son, this medal will be with you as reminder that I will always be with you. When you doubt and are afraid, look down at this medal and remember that I will always be with you. When you can’t see the land, remember that I will be at the finish line waiting for you to celebrate. You can do this. I believe in you.”
The weather moved in and the seas got choppy. Charlie was the only one to finish the race. And, just as his dad promised, he was there at the finish line cheering him on with open arms. “Well done, lad. You finished the race. I was always with you, just as I promised. I believe in you.”
Just as his dad promised, he was there at the finish line cheering Charlie on with open arms.Charlie finished his race here on May 11, 2019. I am sure his heavenly Father was waiting with open arms to welcome him home: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You finished the course, and you kept the faith. I was always with you.” I am also sure that Charlie’s earthly dad was there to join in the celebration.
A few more stories have emerged after the funeral service. Charlie and his Links Players brother Eric started a spiritual discipline about 10 years ago with many Links Players in this area. I told this story at his service. We always say, “I’ll be praying for you.” Charlie said, “Let’s really pray and do this. I need a reminder. So, every day at 3:16 p.m. (i.e., John 3:16), set your alarms to signal a time to stop and pray for each other. And really pray, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.” I have seen Charlie pray with brothers on the practice range and on the golf course and at the movies. We also prayed one day at Dairy Queen. It has become a staple discipline for many still today.
I received a text the day after the funeral service about a lady who was having a birthday party at her home. The lady celebrating her birthday had never heard of Links Players and was not a golfer or sailor. She was just a friend of the family and had attended his service the day before. In the middle of opening her presents, her alarm went off at 3:16. She seemed embarrassed but confided to everyone, “I just set my watch yesterday to remind me to pray for others every day at 3:16. This is the first day it has happened.” So, what did they all do? They stopped opening presents and prayed. The lady who sent me the text then simply said, “The torch has been passed.” I love a God who reminds us of his faithfulness.
I was honored to officiate Charlie’s service. It started at 2 p.m., and I was standing in the pulpit right before the benediction when my alarm went off at 3:16. I cried. So we stopped and prayed. It was not planned. Not by us, anyway.
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Randy Wolff
August 5, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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