Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
Early this morning I saw this in the UK papers (and Malta’s, I think):
NHS hospitals are using end-of-life care to help elderly patients to die because they are difficult to look after and take up valuable beds, a top doctor has warned.
He talks about removing a “patient from the LCP despite significant resistance.”
Oh, you don’t know about LCP? Read it all
That’s how it starts, anyway.
Just a bit.
And not very sturdy.
Nor long lasting.
Flimsy and short-lived, really. Read it all
Ella Boss died a week ago today:
I remember him as a doorman at the now-defunct Rescue Mission in Portland (Oregon).
He served there, helping rescue down-and-outers.
Some of them were quite wrecked.
Early this morning, Richard was rescued from this life. Read it all
Two large trees
Well aged
And mature
Shading many of us.Cut down
This past week
Sadly
Though unsurprisingly.Farewell
Howard King
And John Yoder
Til we meet you
On the other side.And thanks
Many thanks
For the shade.
That’s not how I planned to start this post. But my own plans notwithstandingatall, that’s what happened.
What I intended to say originally was something along the lines of, “No, they weren’t cut down! They were transplanted!”
We lost them, like someone loses a bar of gold when he puts it in the country’s bestest, safest, guaranteedest safety deposit box. It’s not lost at all.
So we say we lost John and Howard. And we did. But in reality, they are founder and safer than they’ve ever been. We get them back eventually. Provided we go where they are now kept by The Master Banker, if you will.
That is hope — Christian hope!
Howard died this past Wednesday afternoon around four. John died early yesterday morning around 12:15.
Howard: Welcome to Glory, John!
John: Thank you, Howard! You’re looking great!!
Howard: Yup. And check this out: no more incomplete fingers!
John: Yeah, I can see that…with two eyes.
Yeah, I know. Kinda strange. But in a nice sort of way.
And here’s something also kinda-strange-to-the-human-mind, but also in a nice sort of way:
“And ye are complete in him,” goes the first part of Colossians 2:10.
For some reason, that’s what comes to my mind with regard to Vernon.
VivianT called this morning at 9:02 with the message on our congregational hot line: Vernon Boss passed away.
He is now complete!
And completely at rest.
Gone, behind, discarded, forgotten — this life’s trials, pains, disappointments, griefs, imperfections, and woes. And also its injustices, unkindnesses, sin, disrespect, and dishonor.
Vernon has entered into joy!
May the Comforter do His divine work for Ella and the rest of the family.
