‘Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ‘ James 4:14
This week has been one to remind me of this verse. My uncle has lived a pretty remarkable life. He grew up building homes with my grandfather, back in an era of hand tools and remarkable craftsmanship. He trained horses and rodeoed for a local vet. He joined the army after high school. He was a member of the Old Guard. He rode the lead white horse in President Kennedy’s funeral procession. He choose to resign his post with the Old Guard to go to Viet Nam, to go to war. He served 3 tours, accumulated many accommodations, including the bronze star with oak leaf cluster and the purple heart with 2 oak leaf clusters. He ran marathons, and then ultra marathons toward the twilight of his military career. A career that ended, after 23 years, at Fort Carson in Colorado. I know my uncle’s flaws. He’s far from perfect, but I love him a great deal. I have a great many memories of time spent with him. Memories going back to when I was a very small boy. Not one of which is a bad or painful memory. He is a man who lived quite a life. A life in service to his country, his family and his friends. But, his life has been just a vapor. He is 81 years old and his health is declining fairly quickly. As I was growing up, I saw a GIANT of a man. He was GI Joe, a cowboy, the real McCoy. I could never have imagined him any other way. His time is drawing to a close, but the imprint he has left on me and so many others will live on and echo far beyond what he could ever fathom. He’s done so much, seen so much, and lived so very much. But, most of all, I will remember the way that he loved and served so very very much. When I go to visit him on Saturday, I will see the GIANT, the GI Joe, the cowboy, just as I always have and just as he will be once again in glory.
Live a big life, people. Serve and share Jesus. Be Jesus in service to others. Love… like there’s no tomorrow, love… because someday there won’t be. Have a blessed weekend
‘Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. ‘ John 15:13
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy
