Last Saturday my wife and I attended a memorial service for our good friend and neighbor Leigh Johnson. He succumbed to cancer last spring after a number of years suffering. Leigh was a Viet Nam veteran, a paratrooper and a man who suffered much in his life before, during and after that conflict. It was special to me that he chose to have his ashes dropped by airplane into the lake that their house is on - he always liked sky jumping. As I watched the airplane approach the lake, my mind went over the relationship I had with Leigh. I can honestly say he was a very good friend and that we spent many hours talking on a variety of subjects, including his time in Vietnam. Given what he went through in that war and afterwards, he turned out well. He was loved by family and friends. I was one of them and I found him to be a very good friend indeed. Leigh’s life turned around for the better when he became a Christian many years ago. His relationship with God helped him cope with the anger and rage he felt inside at times and gave him a peace and tolerance he hadn’t had before. I visited with him shortly before he passed away and there was no fear of death in him, but rather a secure sense he was departing this world to live in a better one. He would say that his life really began when invited Jesus Christ into his life. As I watched the pilot drop his ashes from the plane over the lake I was so happy for him. Yes, he left this world too early, but he left a wonderful legacy. That is what Jesus Christ can do for a person. My life turned around when I was seventeen. I am a writer and speaker today because of what Christ has done [and is still doing] in my life. Saying goodbye to my friend was hard, but the pain was lessened because I know I will see him again.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:03:40 +0000
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