RSS
Home
Tribute to a sick man
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
When I first saw him, he was in a medical clinic, sitting with his back towards me, with only a glimpse of his profile. I remember being struck by him. He was about 80, wearing suspenders, with an unusual calm and peaceful demeanor, and with great dignity. As a social worker I later visited him and recognized him as the same person, when he was admitted to the hospital for cancer.
I was not at all looking for God. But when I entered his room, the Holy Spirit filled the place with his presence. It was an awesome place because of Rev. John McReynolds. And I was surprised, because of the gentleness with which God was drawing me back to him. For several years before that encounter, the only interaction with God I had was one of dread. I was hammered by guilt and by the anger of God when I sensed his presence at all during those years. But now in this hospital room, I realized the love of God again and how sincere his welcome was.
I said nothing about any of this to the patient, for I was still not open to even talk about God. So instead, he spoke of mining coal underground since he was 8 years old, working 16 hours a day for 50 cents a day. The labor leader John Lewis was next to Jesus Christ to him, because he fought for and won better conditions for the miners. It is a sin that the coal companies were so greedy and so uncaring towards their workers. For the most part, there was no trace of Christian influence amongst them. The owners helped build some big churches in Pittsburg and other large northern cities, but they were the kind described in the Bible as “having a form of godliness, denying the power.” The Holy Spirit adds these words about such churches, “from such turn away.”
On the other hand, people like John McReynolds walked with God and encouraged others to do so also. The last time I visited him during his second stay in the hospital, again we discussed several topics but nothing about God. But finally he looked at me from his bed and said, “I believe you will be a ________ preacher some day.” I knew that God was calling me to do that since I was a teenager, and was determined not to go in that direction. I had discussed that topic with no one at all. So when he said that, I was so stunned that I started to cry and walked out of the room, not being able to say a word because of the shock.
I never saw him again, but heard that he died soon afterwards. When I meet someone from that area (Wise and Coburn, Virginia) I tell them that story when I have the chance. He had a profound and positive influence on me. I am sorry I had no opportunity to tell him, but by my reaction at our last meeting, I am sure his insight from God was confirmed to him. He was very close to God, and faced death with great peace.
What kind of impact do we have on others? Will it come to light that we were good in public and a devil at home? Or is what others see is what they get? Jesus Christ was the only perfect person who ever lived, and the rest of us need to repent and to ask forgiveness a lot. Otherwise we will never draw near to the God John McReynolds knew and loved and obeyed.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
