Another Goodbye

I have some sad news. I have known the day to report this was coming for several weeks now, but that doesn't make it any easier. Mrs. Sue Freeland has passed away. All last year she has been the picture of health, then, on Christmas Eve, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I'm glad her family had four months with her, but still, it's a bit of a shock.

I have written about our neighbors, the Freelands, on many occasions here. They have figured prominently in my life and are dear friends. Mr. James Earl and Mrs. Sue were our next door neighbors when I was growing up until Kenny's parents built their house between us. The Freelands have three sons—Brian, Steve, and Brent—all a year apart. Brent and I are the same age. They were my best friends growing up. My earliest memories of them are playing with them in the church nursery. We all enjoyed a very idyllic country childhood, went to school together, and all wound up attending MTSU after high school. Steve and I were neighbors in the same dorm for two years and Brent and I were roommates on two occasions.

I don't see Brian, Steve, and Brent nearly as much as I would like, but I still count them as good friends. And their parents have always been special to me, people I look up to. I've played at their house about as much as their boys played at my house. They've been constants at church for as long as I can remember. So, Mrs. Sue's passing hurts.

I got to visit Mrs. Sue two weeks ago. We had a good time reminiscing and just catching up since I had last seen her before Christmas. I am so grateful I got to hug her and tell her I love her; something I never got the chance to do with my mom the last 11 weeks of her life. So, I am hurting for my neighbors and friends who are dealing with a loss they didn't see coming before Christmas.

On another note, Nate has just ten days of school left, so he is most definitely coming down the home stretch. Seniors get out a bit earlier than the rest of the students, so my school year will continue a couple of weeks beyond his. Graduation is on the 21st.

Davidson Academy went forward with their prom this weekend, as many schools in the area are doing. Nate and six of his friends decided they didn't want to go to the prom, but they wanted to have fun night. So, they all dressed up, met at a local park for pictures, went out to eat, and then went bowling. Basically, they did everything they cared to do on prom night except attend the prom itself.

Joe

Happy Easter!

The trees are pushing out their leaves, early plants are blooming, the mower is serviced, farmers are gearing up to plant corn, spring is here. With spring comes Easter and we are so thankful that things are more normal than they were last Easter. We had two services at church today to help with social distancing and both services were well attended.

We decided to celebrate Easter within our family this year with a Seder meal. This was the fourth time we've done this; twice at church about 15 years ago, once here at home in 2015, and now this year. It's probably laughable at what we really don't know about doing this. There were several things we knew were wrong. First of all, we did not have our meal on Passover itself but on the evening before Easter so that everyone could be here. Then we couldn't find any matzah and had to make our own with the flour we had on hand; definitely not kosher for Passover. And with nowhere to find the shank bone of a lamb a drumstick from a rotisserie chicken had to do. I suppose someone could be critical of all this, but all inexperience aside, each time I've partaken in a Seder I have found that it enriches the meaning of Easter and the ordinance our church calls Communion greatly, and I can't help but feel that my King is pleased with the effort, no matter how feeble it may be. I know that traditions change and evolve over the years, but there are elements of the Seder that have been practiced for centuries and are clearly evident when reading the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. What happened that night with the events that followed—the crucifixion and resurrection—revolutionized the Disciples' understanding of what the Messiah had come to do. Experiencing this meal also helps me set aside what I think Jesus' mission is and focus more on what he said his mission was about; something much more universal in scope, not focused on me.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate this season. This "we" included Nolan, of course, but also a new face at the table. In the last few months Ben has struck up a conversation with a high school classmate, Mei Lin, whom he went with to the senior prom with a couple of years ago. Mei Lin is a student at Samford University now so it isn't so easy for them to see each other. From what I hear it is a good thing that nation-wide local calling is a standard of cell phone plans. Mei Lin was home at the end of February so Ben decided to come in as well. When he told her he was coming in that weekend she asked what was bringing him home. He simply said, "To see you."

Mei Lin's mom teaches Pre-K at DA. I ran into her in the hall a few weeks ago and she said, "Is your son trying to steal my daughter?" To which I could only say, "I think so." This weekend the two of them have spent a lot of time together. Ben presented her with an orchid Friday and asked if she would be interested in dating. From the smile on his face I'd say she was interested.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate the season and the reason we have this season. What a way for someone to be introduced to a family. Here we are, a bunch of Baptists and Nazarenes who really don't have a clue how to do what we're doing but trying our best to honor our King, even if it is a departure from how we normally do that. I have found a lot of humor with how all this has come together this year, yet I am humbly grateful for the people who are becoming part of my children's lives.

I'll close wishing you a happy Easter. No matter where you are or what you're dealing with in life, it is good to stop and celebrate the fact that death has been defeated and the King reigns.

Joe