Mike’s Musings …
A Week of Funerals
“It is appointed unto man once to die …” (Heb. 9:27). Yet, God has not informed us of those dates. This past week, that “appointed time” came to three very dear friends of mine; each knowing the certainty of death; each knowing as well the promise of the resurrection.
CATHERINE FODRILL died April 3 and was laid to rest on April 7. JACK FODRILL, her husband, died April 8 and is to be laid to rest on April 12. Both were faithful members of the Lord’s church at Pinhook, near Bedford, IN. We moved to Indiana in 1988, and Jack and Catherine quickly became our friends, as did their daughters, Becky Skillman and Trudy Wagoner. Nancy had their grandchildren, Aaron and Kelsy in bible class. Catherine’s father, Ed Flinn, had been an elder at Pinhook, and so he and his wife Josephine also became close friends. Catherine and Jack were married for some seventy-one years!
April 7 also saw the passing of GUYLA YOCKEY of Willow Hill, IL. I first met Guyla in 1977 as I stayed with her and her husband BERLYN, one of the elders, the first time I preached at Yale, IL. Through the years, I’ve enjoyed many meals at her table, lots of laughs, and hours of bible study! It was my pleasure and blessing to immerse her two sons-in-law into Christ and (if memory serves) at least one of her grandchildren. Guyla never met a stranger and was exquisite in her hospitality.
It’s interesting to note God’s providence in such events. Jack and Catherine had done so much together in this life, why not enter the next at essentially the same time? Though Guyla had been hospitalized several times in recent years, she never wanted to leave her home for very long. They had arranged her return and within hours of her entering into her home from the hospital, Guyla slipped into the eternal care of God.
I muse on the reality of such passings. God has richly blessed my life with not mere acquaintances, but dear “siblings” in Christ Jesus! “It’s family out here,” said Ed Flinn (father of Catherine Fodrill) and he was right. His family made me feel a part of their family – and I treasure that love! “Make yourself at home,” was Guyla’s constant greeting to me every time I entered their home. And many have been the times of staying with them during meetings at Yale. Now, I muse on the reality these can be but memories treasured, examples learned and valued. So while death is certain, making LIFE RIGHTEOUS and setting EXAMPLES OF LIVING for others is my present responsibility. Someday, someone will add me to the list of obituaries. If all they can say is, “He died in Christ,” it will be enough. If we can accomplish that task, the life we have lived will make a tremendous funeral sermon!