In Memory Of - Episode 182

When I look back at the month of August 1999, this verse comes to mind,  Psalm 139, 5; “You have encircled me, behind and in front, and placed your hand upon me.” During our vacation in Turkey, we witnessed the unusual solar eclipse, which was exactly 27 years ago today. Thomas told me that night, he felt this was a milestone, like God was reminding him of how fulfilling his life had been. And then he spoke of how amazing it will be, experiencing the turn of the millennium, the year 2000. I think this was his way of telling me, that he knew his life, was coming to an end soon. The Apostle Paul shared a similar inner conflict in Philippians Chapter 2, verses 21- 23, “For me life is Christ and death is gain.” He felt torn between two good options, a strong desire to leave this life and be with Christ, or to stay alive and continue helping others in their faith. Everything that unfolded at that time in our lives, was somewhat of a mystery, yet God had set up the very strange developments of Thomas’ last day on earth. After Thomas and I, had taken communion together, he was no longer aware of what was going on.