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The Wall
Yesterday was one of those days.
The first message came that Larry Walker had died. A little while later came word that David Long had died. Then another message arrived that Wayne Bohannon had died. Just days earlier, we learned that Ed Lauer had passed away.
As Christians, we celebrate the promise that death is not the end. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting. Even so, death has a way of catching us off guard. Whether expected or unexpected, it reminds us how much we love the people God has placed in our lives.
Today I attended the funeral of Rev. Nancylee Cater at Warner Robins First United Methodist Church. That church holds a special place in my heart. I served as a youth pastor there. Shelly and I were married there.
Nancylee held a special place in my family’s story as well.
My grandfather, Rev. Edward Carruth, served churches faithfully for many years, including Warner Robins FUMC where he was Nancylee’s pastor. He and my grandmother had a cottage at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, where our family spent time every summer. One of my grandfather’s retirement projects was building a stone wall near the cottage. He carefully collected stones from North Carolina and from around the world, planning where each one would go.
Then, when I was fifteen years old, my grandfather died suddenly of a heart attack.
His death shocked all of us. It certainly shocked me. At the time, I had absolutely no idea that one day I would become a pastor myself.
Not long after his death, Nancylee wrote a devotional reflection inspired by my grandfather’s unfinished wall. (Her son Tommy is the little boy she writes about). A copy still hangs in the Carruth cottage at Lake Junaluska. As I sat in her funeral service today, and as I reflected on the deaths of Larry, David, Wayne, and Ed, I found myself thinking about her words once again.
They remind us that death often comes before the work feels finished. They remind us that every life leaves something unfinished behind. Most importantly, they remind us that God calls others to pick up the stones and continue building.
I hope you will take a few moments to read Nancylee’s reflection below.
THE WALL
Behind a small house, perched at the crest of a hill, is a stone wall, not quite completed. There, at Lake Junaluska, Brother Ed Carruth had his “project”. Imbedded in cement are stones from North Carolina and around the world. For several years Ed has carefully planned the placement of each stone – measured, levelled, and tapped into place.
The work was gradual, but productive. Well, actually, it was SLOW! Still, it was something for him to look forward to, and it sparked his creative vein.
Occasionally, he had an eager “helper” – a young boy from a congregation he had once served. Together they advanced construction at least several inches! Perhaps the project was delayed slightly as they laughed and teased with each other. And, just maybe, Tommy learned a little bit about building a wall as he shared the life of this “Grandfather” friend.
When the shocking news came that Death had taken this friend without warning, Tommy’s response was, “I guess his wall won’t get finished.” The tears flowed freely as he remembered the times they shared.
In a way, we each are building walls with the mortar and stones of our lives. Each person we meet, event we experience, relationship we build, witness we give – these are the stones we set into the wall.
And, in a real sense, we each are contributing to the one Wall of Love that Jesus has called us to build. When we leave to be with Him, that Wall will be left unfinished. He calls others to join the task and pick up the stones!
Let us work diligently to build our portion of the Wall and to set into the mortar of our lives those around us who need the love of Jesus. One day this Wall will be gloriously complete!
— Nancylee Cater
“So we built the wall
and the whole wall was joined
together …for the people had a
heart to work.” — Nehemiah 4:6
As I read Nancylee’s words again today, I could not help but think about Larry Walker, David Long, Wayne Bohannon, and Ed Lauer.
Their work in this life is now complete, but the work of Christ’s Church continues.
I hope you will join me in worship this Sunday as we gather to proclaim our faith in the risen Christ. And if at all possible, I hope you will make every effort to attend the visitation or funeral services for these men and their families.
This is one of the most important things the Church does.
We show up.
We pray.
We grieve.
We tell the stories.
We proclaim the promises of God.
And we remind one another that while individual lives may end, the work God has called us to do continues. We pick up the stones. We carry on the work. And together, by God’s grace, we keep building the Wall.
Grace and Peace,
Tom
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