Before the Ovations

by DanWolgemuth on May 18, 2012

The program started at 7:30 – it was billed as a Celebration of a Legacy. Inside the walls of a college theater the University did its best to pay tribute to Dr. Stephen S. Bedi, the retiring Provost at Taylor University.

The program was loaded with warmth, honor, credential, and testimony to the academic, spiritual, organizational, and personal quality that characterizes Dr. Bedi. No less that twenty individuals with doctoral degrees participated and eleven without them. Two and a half hours after the opening piano selections, the benediction concluded.

It was long, but fitting.

As the words and tributes mounded, my mind raced to a measure that went unmentioned; a deeply personal measure. Nine years ago Dr. Bedi invested his considerable wisdom, insights, values and beliefs into my son Andrew, a senior at Taylor at the time.

So as I listened to the accolades and accomplishments, they were built upon a singular and seemingly selfish platform – “you took care of my son.”

I laughed, and clapped, and stood in honor at the right moments – but always with the knowledge that while I was miles and miles away; while my voice was muted; while my values were obscured… Dr. Bedi took care of my son.

Then, in a whisper, while the words of the benediction still floated in the air, I sensed the language of my Heavenly Father in simple and reflective tones –

  • Before the grand accomplishments
  • Before the acquisition of knowledge
  • Before the accolades of peers
  • Before ovations

… He simply wants to know if I have taken care of His Son.

Before I make much of anything, I must make much of Jesus. Before I stand tall, I must fall at Jesus feet. Before a legacy… I must take care of His Son.

Our first effort to take care of God’s Son did not go well.

We rejected, and ignored, and misunderstood, and maligned, and abandoned God’s Son. But now, in light of His considerable mercy God extends His grace to me.

Redeemed, reconciled, restored I am now commissioned to take care of His Son… in my soul, in my family, in my public and private moments.

Is it possible that much like me… God will first measure my legacy by whether I have taken care of His Son? Tonight I heard the answer.

Before the ovations…

Making much of Jesus.

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“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35

by DanWolgemuth on May 4, 2012

Two years ago I boarded an airplane – a red-eye flight to be exact – in order to get to Detroit in time to see my father-in-law one last time. His life had inspired me, his faith had propelled me, and his trust had constrained me to love in sacrificial ways. Today as I reflect, I am transported back to those precious final moments together. Remembering…

In a tear. Through a tear. With a tear… Jesus shows the way.

In the waning moments of the morning on May 5, Donald William Cargo showed us the way.

His four children, his precious wife… and a few others were gathered at his bedside. His body, unable to keep up with the ongoing physical battle was shutting down. And we were there to march with him to the entrance gate. To the narrow hallway where only those with tickets can go further. We were there to listen and learn and wonder and pray and sing and cry and read and assure…

We wondered, sometimes out loud, just how much Dad heard or understood what was going on. But several times during the hours together; most often after a wonderful story, or a season of laughter, or a pause to cry… a tear would swell in the corner of his eye. Just a tear.

In that tear… love. In that tear… pain. In that tear… commitment. In that tear… a blessing. In that tear… courage. In that tear… power.

In that tear… a secret word to Eunice.

In that tear… a powerful legacy dispatched to Bruce, Liz, Mary and Bill.

In that tear… embrace to those who were family without genetics.

In that tear… a call to arms for his grands and greats.

In that tear… a fist in the face of the evil one.

In that tear… a thank you.

In that tear… goodbye.

If Jesus, then why not Don. He said so much with a tear.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:1-4

And so… at 12:50 P.M. on May 5… Don’s tears stopped, even as ours continue.

In a tear… we find our courage, our promise, our companionship… and our commissioning.

Until He wipes them away, until death is no more, until the mourning stops, until the pain subsides…

In a tear.

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It’s Multiplication and Not Division that Applies

April 27, 2012

This past week I clicked another mile on the odometer of life. Actually, I’m not sure if it’s a mile, or a thousand, or ten thousand… you get the point. For all of my life April 25 has been a shared day. It’s a day that I share with my twin sister. My earliest birthday [...]

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In the valley; especially in the valley

April 20, 2012

Have you noticed? It is often pain, suffering, disappointment and doubt that sharpen the blades on the auger of life as it drills deeply into the closeness, intimacy, tenderness and promises of God. Yesterday I stood in room 3301 at Sky Ridge Hospital where my friend Don Talley is. He’s a man that has battled [...]

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Dear Hervey….

April 16, 2012

Dear Hervey, Just typing your name makes me smile. Your life has been a blessing to me – and quite frankly, I stand with a very large crowd of those blessed by you. When I reflect on your winsome and joy-filled life I am drawn to the God the you adore and serve. Drawn to [...]

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“Do we still have it?”

April 5, 2012

God is our refuge and strength,           a very present help in trouble.      Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,           though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,           though its waters roar and foam,      though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah   (Psalm 46:1-3ESV) “The [...]

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The Fitness of my Soul

March 30, 2012

In many medical circles the pace at which your heart rate returns to a normal level after intense exercise is a key measure of your fitness. Specifically, the experts define it this way: “The faster your heart rate recovers – or slows down – the fitter and healthier your heart.” An ability to rest and [...]

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A Fourth and a Sixth…

March 23, 2012

Tim Tebow is now a New York Jet. Even typing the words seems unbelievable to me. Once the Denver Broncos had secured the deal to acquire NFL superstar Peyton Manning, then deals for Tebow began to surface. Manning’s contract was reported at $96 million over five years. Incredible by nearly any measure. So what would [...]

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Winter Watering

March 16, 2012

This morning I read an article by J. E. Klett and C. Wilson from the faculty of ColoradoStateUniversity. The topic was: “Winter Watering.” The opening paragraph of the article reads this way: Quick Facts…                  Water trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennials during prolonged dry fall and winter periods to prevent root damage that affects the health [...]

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Tebow Time

March 9, 2012

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” [...]

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