This week has had a dark cloud over it.  We’ve all been shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of Dirk.  Just coming to his 64th birthday, he and Susan have been talking about their retirement and planning for the years to follow.  Suddenly Susan has been planning Dirk’s funeral and trying to grasp what this sudden change means.

Dirk in the meantime is in the presence of God – this is our firm belief and our hope for the age to come.  I can’t imagine facing the prospect of death without hope.

Those of us left here are just observers struck by the stark reminder that life is brief and always fragile.

We live with expectation.  Expectation that we have today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.  It’s natural to assume this for most of the time it is true.  But this week we’ve been reminded that all of us must face our mortality.

Husbands and wives hugged a little tighter, a little longer, recognizing the implications for us all.  And we all prayed for Susan and family believing that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death God is indeed with us.

Today with Dirk’s funeral service and it served as a firm reminder that while we don’t know when death will come our way but we can be ready.