Dear Ric

 

Harmony Pines - September 1995

My friend, I heard you left yesterday to walk through the gates where I am certain you heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome to My rest.” While I am happy with that outcome for you I must confess that I am saddened by the loss, I’ve missed you for years and now I’ll kick myself for not taking a ride to Prescott.

We were partners in ministry to some incredible young people, including our own children. We washed feet together, broke bread, and hustled after kids decades younger than us. While we served under some incredible interns, directors really, we had enough in the tank to teach them a thing or to. We weren’t afraid to share our injuries with them and because of that, they were open to our hearts and heard the Gospel from us in real terms.

Many of those kids are parents now themselves, incredible parents. There are some great cooks and teachers and youth workers and yes, even an ordained Presbyterian Minister of the Word and Sacrament. Indeed, well done Ric, and well met.

One of my favorite memories with you was the Harmony Pines Camp we did along with your outstanding wife Peggy and the ever faithful James Delbis. We were between interns at the time and the four of provided the content for the weekend, “It’s Not About Me”. My future son-in-law was among the campers. But maybe I’m mixing up the camps as we did several of them up there including the one from 1995 pictured in this post.

Anyway, the lesson you brought one night was classic as you did a riff from the story I share with kids about not being bitter against God and how it separates us from Him. We were in that small meeting cabin with about a dozen or so Junior Highers with a nice fire in the fireplace and firewood all around, some we’d brought ourselves. You were driving home the point of being split from God using a sledge hammer with a log splitting wedge and pounding it out, very dramatic. With the final split a hive of carpenter bees was released into the cabin and all heck broke loose – kids screaming and running every which way and four adults opening every window and door while making a valiant attempt at ushering the poor confused bees out. Those things don’t bite or sting but they are terrifying. I think if any of the kids read this letter to you will see the whole thing all over again.

I want to thank you for all of that, you mean the world to me for it.

Let’s go back to before our ministry together to when Cindy and I rejoined the church with our little family. You and Peggy were assigned to us as we came out of the new members’ class. The system then was that each new member had an established member, or couple in the case of married couples, joining the church and you guys drew our names. You’d been warned to treat us with kid gloves because of the disillusionment we had from our old church that led to us being without a church home for somewhere around ten years. You both were so kind. A bit hesitant but so very kind. Once we shared the story with you and laughed off the tentativeness we slid right in to church life. Thank you, both of you.

You are whole now and with eyes wide open in awe of the place you are at and in Jesus’ presence. I’m grateful for that. Just the same, I’m sorry I didn’t jump on the bike and come out.

In His grip, your friend,

jerry