After Linda’s passing, Steve, Linda’s husband honoured me by asking me to read the eulogy at the memorial service. I was thinking maybe somebody in the family should do this. But Steve and Linda’s brother, Terry both said they would probably crack if they read it. So I got to stand in front of people I’ve known for almost four decades and summarize Linda’s life. I also realized how little I really did know about Linda. The family provided me with the information and most of the speech I needed. A look through my old photo albums also helped me to reflect on our friendship.

The memorial service was a celebration and I was happy to see so many old friends again. My lack of knowledge of the details of Linda’s life got me thinking. As much as I love my friends and think of them often, I actually know very little about them. Yet I’ve been extremely blessed just by being with them and am of the impression that God has made me a blessing to them also. I will never actually know any of my friends as well as I know my own wife and family, but my family is who I am responsible for. I guess the love required to hold a marriage together is the act of learning and getting to know my wife. It really is a lifetime of learning and I am grateful that God has put my wife and me together. God will take care of my friends. I’ll be there when they need me. I will make every attempt to keep in touch with Linda’s family.

Some of you who read this blog commented on my obsession with cars. Particularly the MINI. Well, I guess I am a gearhead. Any car interests me. I am intriqued by the technology and the ability to go faster than a human body has any right to. But I need to be careful that cars don’t become my idols. When I bought the Fiero back in 1985, I remember a lot of people, especially in church, questioned me about buying a two-seat sport car, and a mid-engined one at that. What most people didn’t know was that by being a bit materialistic it opened a lot of doors to people which I wouldn’t normally have opportunity to tell them about my spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. Interesting how living my life with all my victories and failures, let people know that there is more to being alive than making money, buying stuff and just surviving until you die. We all have sin and are quite fallible, and will die. But there is something else spiritual to life. If my life causes others to ask, then God has used me for his purpose.

Here we are coming up to Christmas. Let’s divert this topic. My daughter and I are reading about Joseph in the Bible right now in our bedtime read. In spite of what happened to Joseph, sold to be a slave, wrongfully accused of rape, imprisoned, etc, God still watched over him. God blessed Joseph and through Joseph, blessed all those who associated with him either as his authority or those under him. That is how I see God use me and each and every person who calls him/herself Christian. As an owner of a Fiero, I am a member of Westcoast Fieros of BC. The club now has a number of Christians in it, but is not a religious club, nor should it be. However, the club has evolved to be more than a club whose purpose is solely to show off our cars, drive them and work on them. The last 5 years, the club has donated money and food to local charities at Christmas. Each meeting there are small fund raising activities to this purpose. Though the purpose is to bring attention to the unique vehicles, it now does it by answering to a more noble purpose. I am also a member of a MINI club. This year, I proposed a club drive and challenged the members of two clubs to bring a toy to the Christmas Bureau toy drive.  So a bunch of MINI drivers got up early in the morning and we went down together and a great time and donated a load of toys. The feeling was so fulfilling for the members that it was proposed we make this an annual drive.  So I still have this lifelong obsession with cars, music, photography and any of my other hobbies.  But will be careful that there is a higher purpose than enjoying these and am truly blessed that God would allow me to enjoy these things for his purpose.  In the words of the song “Shine” by the Newsboys – 

Shine – make em wonder what you’ve got Make em wish that they were not on the outside looking bored.

Shine- let it shine before all men Let em see good works and then let em glorify the Lord.

 So my purpose in life is to serve God with all that I am wherever I am in all circumstances. I don’t believe I will never fail at my calling. But when I do, I have been allowed to pick myself up and try again. That’s what the birth of Christ, His ministry on earth, His death and then His resurrection means to me, and that is my meaning in life. I hope those reading this and do not know Christ (or don’t want to know) will one day be touched by God to ask the question, what does it mean to have a spiritual relationship with God? Thanks for reading.