As the “last call” was broadcast yesterday for the St. Petersburg policeman brought down in the line of duty – the third in just under a month – and with the sounds of the bagpipes playing the strains of Amazing Grace, I found myself sitting in my family room with a rather large lump in my throat and a tear or two running down my cheek. I was remembering a nephew, a firefighter who died several years ago under different circumstances.
Hadn’t really thought of David much in the years since his passing except just now and again like while addressing Christmas Cards or planning a Martin Family reunion. The similarities with yesterday’s funeral service caught me off guard. For David the bagpipes played as well and there was a “last call” for him. The parking lot was lined with other firefighters all in uniform, all saluting their friend and colleague for the last time.
David loved his son, loved being a firefighter, but there were other demons in his life that created an unbelievable mountain for him to scale. He tried. His parents provided all sorts of assistance. We could blame the divorce. It came as a surprise. It devastated him. But that would be too simple of an excuse for a complicated individual.
Our family had attended his wedding. A joyous occasion … a celebration of love and hope and promise. The fire trucks were all there then too, with sirens blaring, lights flashing and a false emergency call requiring David’s assistance pulling him away from his new bride and his honeymoon … just to the edge of the parking lot.
There was pride in his voice when he spoke of his son. The camping hunting trips where important to him. A time of sharing … a time of escape. He was also considering medical school because of his EMT training and experience. There was so much hope and promise.
He and his brother Michael attended our daughter’s wedding on their motorcycles, but they were leaving early the next morning to go visit their other brother, Kenny. They were both concerned for him because life was dealing him a raw deal. They thought they heard sounds of depression, sounds of anxiety, sounds of desperation. Their brother needed them. Who would have thought? Who could have imagined that within a very short period of time the “raw deal” would get the best of David and a life would end … too soon … too tragically.
It was just too sad … too sobering … and yesterday, in the quietness of my home the memories came pouring back upon my spirit and flooded my soul. It did cause me to offer a quick prayer for each living member of my family asking God to keep them safe. I resolved to try to keep in better contact with all of them no matter where they are or what I am doing.
Life is precious and the people in our life are God’s gift to us … we should never take them for granted because we never know when the “last call” will be given for them and the strains of Amazing Grace will be heard as their life is remembered.
Quote for today: When we face difficulties, we sometimes forget God's past faithfulness. We see only the detours and the dangerous path. But look back and you will also see the joy of victory, the challenge of the climb, and the presence of your traveling Companion who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. ~Source Unknown
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