THE SUDDEN PAINFUL BLOW OF DEATH

How Could We Comprehend the Pain that Was about to Strick

 As we struck camp that Friday morning and loaded to leave our first wonderful family vacation in the friendly country of Canada, it was with joy and gladness that we drove away hoping for another such outing in another year or two.  Not far from our campsite we merged into the long line of travelers going over the border from beautiful Canada into the Good Ole United States of America.

After we left the last gate giving us the freedom of home, we settled back to enjoy the scenery and ride through the Michigan landscape.  We were in Carlene's van.  She rode behind the front seat passenger.  I rode shotgun.  Joanna had the wheel.   The Kids were settling into their favorite spots.  After an hour outside Canada, Joanna's phone rang.  She answered, spoke a word or two then want silent for a few seconds, then pulling onto the shoulder of the road she looked at me and said with a terribly broken voice, Dad I don't know how to tell you this; but, Jeremy's no longer here.  Jeremy died this morning.  I was uncomprehending.  We all wept sourly at the awful, unbelievable report that Jeremy, our believed 46 year old son had suddenly died of a heart attack.

We were on an interstate with plenty of traffic and no proper place to pull over or get out.  In a short way along the road we came to a parking area.  There we pulled off and climbed out.  The six of us hugged and cried individually and in a circle, just what ever seemed to met our needs at the moment.  Joanna told the story as she had heard it from the police man, a boy who had been in her graduation class from High School.  Jeremy, our second son, the middle of our five children, lived in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  He had been Minister of Music at the First United Methodist Church  of Hopkinsville for several years. 

Jeremy had a degree in Forestry, but loved music just a little bit better.  He was an avid bicycle rider.  He connected well with the city bike shop and the men and women who gathered there often to ride the roads and by-ways of Christian County.  Friday was his day off and those days he and others often took longer rides.  Early every day available, before work, he / they got in a few miles.  After several years of riding, he was working his way up to 100 to 150 mile per week.  Over the years he had gained weight and saw biking as a way toward health as well an excise and good fellowship with many friends.  Gladly, over time, he had lost many pounds of weight.

Some bikers ride racing bikes and some mountain bikes.  Jeremy's were racers.  Some friends liked mountain biking.  He had fixed up a mountain bike and was excited to have his first experience on the big tires that day.  Only one friend was available that Friday.  They were prepared and ready.  Bikes were secured in the back of his pickup.  They drove west from Christian County to the Land between the Lakes, parked the pickup, unloaded and started up the trail.

After a while they saw a Welcome Center ahead.  Jeremy said to his friend, "My chest is hurting a little, I think I'll stay and rest a while.  You go on, I'll catch up."  But the friend waited around a bit, then said he'd go back and bring up the pickup.  By the time he returned, Jeremy had collapsed.  Someone immediately began CPR,  911 had been called.  By the time Pickup and Friend arrived an ambulance was on the seine.  The ambulance crew did their best and the Paducah, Kentucky hospital did their best for two hours to no avail. 

It was Jeremy's day to move from Hopkinsville to Heaven and live with God forever.  We can't tell you our pain.  We can tell you we know where he is and we can go there, too.  Not every body goes there.  But any body can go there.  The requirement is to believe Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.  Ask His forgiveness of all your sin and let Him become King of your heart and life.