John Muir was an American author who explored and wrote about nature. Because of his role in preserving wilderness areas in the United States, he is known as “the father of the national parks.” This is what John wrote about Death Valley: “Amidst the harshness of Death Valley, nature’s beauty reveals its resilience.”
It’s not easy to visit people who are passing through the valley of the shadow of death. Recently my wife, Ernie, and I learned that a 79-year-old friend was days from death. We went to visit him expecting to encounter death’s harshness. Instead, we saw joy, beauty, and resilience.
TK was very thin and weak. He was confined to his bed and couldn’t eat or drink. The only thing he had consumed for three days was by sucking on a popsicle. Yet he greeted us with warmth and cheerfulness and offered us a popsicle.
Ernie and I were amazed. For the next half hour, we listened to TK make jokes and tell funny stories like he always did. Out of the blue I found myself asking him if he used to be a comedian (a question I had never asked him before). He smiled big and said yes. Then he told this story. I can’t quote him word for word, but it went something like this.
“Yes. I was regularly doing stand-up comedy in a Las Vegas casino. One night I was performing on stage, and God began to talk to me. I said, ‘God, can’t you see that I’m in the middle of a show.’ but God kept talking. He told me that that was to be my last show and that he wanted me to spend my time telling people about Jesus on the Las Vegas Strip.”
“I said yes to God and finished the routine. After the show I told the casino that I needed to quit working for them because God wanted me to testify about Jesus on the Las Vegas streets.”
“The next day one of the managers called me in to her office. She had a very tall stack of coupons sitting on her desk. She said that they were passes for a free meal in their casino buffet. She told me each pass was good for two meals so that I could bring someone with me from the streets.”
Then TK rejoicingly said: “There were enough coupons that I was able to eat lunch and dinner in that casino every day for four months. That’s how God provides.”
TK wasn’t in denial about his dying. He told us that Vanderbilt University was soon going to come and get his body and use it for research. Meanwhile he continued to make us laugh with his warm, friendly humor.
After we prayed for him, he sent us away with joyful gratitude. We left in awe of the supernatural beauty that was revealed to us in and through our dying friend. TK amazingly demonstrated to us the reality of the Bible verse: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
Thank you, Jesus, for TK and for his amazing testimonies and miraculous joy. My faith is stronger because of him.
The New Testament isn’t about church attendance. If you actually read it, you will see that it’s about total dependence on Jesus. That’s what we saw in TK!
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Short Reflections, Lasting Encouragement 