Pastor L

Some of the men from my childhood were larger than life. They were my Grandpa's friends. They talked loudly. They seemed to stand taller than other men. Their hands were huge, rough, and strong when they shook my hand in church. They always had a pocket full of candy to share with me after lunch on Sundays. I was sure that these men were the closest thing to superheros I had ever met.

One of the men that I remember most was the same man that performed my parents' wedding, He was the man my brother is named after. The same man that baptized most of my family. He pastored the church I grew up in. He was the man that led both of my parents to the Lord.

Pastor L had a giant, booming voice that scared me just a little bit when he would speak from the pulpit. He would visit my grandparents every Tuesday, without fail, to catch them up on his grandkids, and to hear about what theirs were up to. Pastor L would deliver communion to their house just before Easter...not because they asked him to, but because he knew they couldn't get out of the house to be in church that Sunday.

He was at every high school football game, without fail, whether he knew a player or not. He was never without a pair of suspenders, or a smile. He loved the Lord more than almost anyone I know.

Fifteen minutes ago I got the phone call from Mom telling me that Pastor L passed away last night in his sleep.

Learning of Pastor L's passing really impacted me. Since Mom's phone call I can't do much more than cry, smile at the memories he left us, and cry some more. Perhaps it's the sting of losing such a big part of my childhood. Perhaps it's sympathy tears for the holes I know Pastor L left in my parents' hearts, my grandparents' lives, and the lives of his family. Maybe it's just the reality that we all get older and the men that once seemed like superheros are now older, grayer, and not quite as strong as they used to be. Regardless, I know that our time without Pastor L and the other amazing people that have gone before him is short...we'll all be together again in Eternity.

The earth lost a mountain of a man yesterday night, but Heaven gained one of the best angels they've seen so far. Pastor L will be dearly missed each day until we can be with him again forever.

Every Sunday Pastor L ended our church service the same way. He would stand on the center of the steps leading up to the altar. He would stretch his arms as wide as they would go, and in the giant voice that only Pastor L could create he would speak the same blessing, taken from Numbers 6:24-26, over the congregation. It's the same blessing that my brother uses to end his sermons each time he preaches. I thought it was only fitting I end with it too...

"May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you now and forever more."

Congratulations, Pastor L, on being reunited with your beautiful wife. Congratulations on your renewed body and the beginning of an eternity praising the God that you loved and served during your time on Earth. Until we see you again, we'll miss you!