Shawn C. Branch

it was bound to happen at some point.  realistically, with all that traveling i am surprised it did not happen sooner.

the airline LOST my luggage!  i left early in the morning, with my suitcase and a case full of display materials on route to winnipeg.  i arrived in winnipeg and only my suitcase made it.  the display materials, decided to stay in toronto.  the only problem with this whole thing – i never stopped in toronto this time!

thanks it arrived early this next morning and i had everything in time.

on thursday afternoon, i said goodbye to an old friend.  my grandfather took his last breath around 3pm with my mom, my brother, his sister-in-law and me by his side.

in january, he moved into the veteran’s home in moncton.  he hated it at first – he was always independent and the thought of someone having to tell him when it was time to eat or to take his pills made him want to fight the move even more. eventually he started to like it – i think ’cause the nurses were letting him have some treats that he thought the other residents weren’t getting.

on wednesday, the nurses phoned mom at supper-time and suggested that we come down to see him.  she phoned me, and we were both on the road within minutes.  we spent several hours by his bedside that night, he was sharing stories and telling jokes and seemed to be doing fairly good.  i stayed by his bed until midnight, we talked most of the time.  i left that night praying for one more chance to speak with him.

the next morning, i was back by 7:30.  i could tell he wasn’t doing well – he was coughing a lot and was aching in pain.  i phoned to make sure my brother was on his way.  i sat there with him until 9am – just chatting and praying with him.  just before mom arrived, he looked over at me and said ’shawn, i’m ready.  i want to go home and dance with blanche.’

before long we were all by his side.  his doctor ordered a few tests to determine the pain he was experiencing.  just after lunch, the ambulance arrived to take him over for the tests.  as he left the room, we all said that we will see you soon, he simply responded ‘we’ll see.’  i went out to run some errands for mom during that time – i knew he wouldn’t be with us for long.  as i was walking back into his room, the nurse was telling my family that he took his last breath in between the tests.  we all stood shocked and all together the tears began to fall as we knew that our friend (father, grandfather and brother) was gone.

the last few days have been a blur – making funeral arrangements, phoning family and reflecting on the many memories that we have all shared with him.

the funeral is taking place next saturday (april 5) at 2pm.

this past sunday, i was invited to preach at stone church. its not uncommon to be asked to speak somewhere on behalf of church army, especially when i am on the road. as the days were getting closer, i found myself getting more and more anxious about it. perhaps it was the combination of preaching to a historically strong evangelical congregation, my principal and two other ca evangelists.

the reading that i was preaching on was luke 19:11-26. a beautiful parable illustrating how God has given us various gifts to use for His glory. the prep for this message caused me to examine and reflect on what God has given me. am i using His gifts for His glory? or for my profit? i’d much rather He say to me at the end “well done trustworthy servant” instead “you wicked servant”.

i think there is a huge danger, i might have been caught in it, of trying to do so much to serve God that we end up being useless. i called this person ‘candie the church committee junkie’ in my sermon. we are called to serve God with all that we have, but if we don’t allow time for rest and refreshment, how long can we serve without being useless?

i’m off this week, using my last week of holidays for the year. my goal is to spend time reflecting on this. i’d prefer not turn into candie.

in three words i can sum up everything i’ve learned about life: it goes on.

- robert frost