Monday, August 17, 2015

8/17/15

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17
 
Clark Bentall once headed the Bentall Corporation, a construction company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Five downtown office towers in that city bear his family's name.  But, late in life, he found himself in disagreement with his brothers, who leveraged Clark out of the day to day operations and eventually out of the business altogether.  Shortly thereafter, his wife of 57 years lost her battle with cancer, and Clark himself was stricken with Alzheimer's disease.   Now he was alone with no work and no wife and losing his ability to grasp what was going on around him.  A man who once had everything now had nothing.  But, in the years before the fog of Alzheimer's engulfed him, Clark Bentall had invested thoroughly and genuinely in his friendships.   And, now, in his time of need, every Tuesday and Thursday morning, some of his best friends would come over for breakfast, just to talk and say thanks…. for everything.  Even though Clark had less and less to contribute to the conversations and shared memories, they still came…For over four years. 
 
And, that could be any one of us one day.  Alone, Dependent on the obligations of family members and good will of neighbors and friends.  Will you have invested enough in people's lives to make them want to come and see you, even when you are out of touch and not as much fun as you used to be?  Now is the time to pour your hear into others, making a difference in their lives today and looking ahead to the future.
 
Pray with me…Our Father in heaven, we are humbled that you call us your friends.  We who have been far away from you, alienated from you because of our sin, have been brought close because of the cross of your son and our Savior.  We are forever debtors to your grace.  We pray that we will be less self-aware and more aware of others in our circles of acquaintance, especially those in whom we should invest our time, energy, prayers and service.  May literally seek to be a friend to everyone we meet.  For Jesus' sake.  Amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken

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