I had a dream a couple of nights ago. It was so vivid. In it Ann (my wife) was dying. She looked healthy but somehow everyone knew that she was going to die on Monday. On Sunday morning I woke up and got ready for church, only to find out that the two congregations had gotten together to set up a special service to celebrate all that Ann had done for them, and to share their love and presence with our entire family.

All I remember about the service was the closing hymn. The people were singing in such a way that Ann and I both found out what music in heaven is going to sound like. Their love resonated through their voices, and it was holy as holy can be. From the depths of their hearts they did their best to proclaim the victory of Christ. It was overwhelming.

After the service, everyone surrounded Ann and shared their good-byes. Then they surrounded the boys and me and us how they would be there for us. Their voices exuded genuineness.

When everyone left, I walked up to Ann and my facade of being strong fell away, and I blurted out,  “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I will be able to make it.” We held each other for the longest time and we both cried and cried and cried.

When I woke up their were tears running down my face. I re-oriented myself and gave Ann a huge hug, which took her by surprise. It was almost 5 a.m., so I got up knowing that I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.

I got my cup of coffee and sat in my chair to begin my morning devotions. Instead I just sat there and continued to feel the love that our two churches share with us.
You can’t buy that kind of love. You can’t even find that kind of love on a human level. It is from God. And it can be found in churches both large and small throughout the world; a love that far exceeds its size. And that’s what makes the church so worth my time as a pastor.

God bless, Dan