The unthinkable....

Before Ben and I were married, back in his college days and before, he would spend time with his Uncle Steve. He would tell me about this man that he would hike with, rebuild cars with, borrow pinball machines from, share music with, talk about theology and family, and even the days when Uncle Steve and his father would install car stereos together... he *loves* his Uncle Steve. After we were married, I quickly understood. Uncle Steve - a phenomenal husband, father, musician, man... a man who loves God and his people, a sweet and gentle soul with a talent for music that only God himself could have bestowed. (The music on the MP3 player above is Uncle Steve playing on Sept 10, 2006. NOTE: I know it is a huge file and takes awhile to load. It may have to restart it a time or two to hear it without it getting stuck buffering.)

After we were married, Ben and I moved away to find jobs and would only see Uncle Steve at the long weekend family reunion held every year on Petit Jean Mt, Arkansas and every other year at Thanksgiving. Man, do we look forward to that time with family! It really is an awesome way to get to know family and when you live as far away as we do, it is a treat!

this picture is from Petit Jean 2003 (more pics) - Ben, Uncle Steve, and Ben's Dad

God took Uncle Steve on Tuesday. Although Ben and I had expected that when he died, it would be sudden and unexpected, it is still a shock. Uncle Steve has had heart issues for about 20 years and because Ben and I know a bit about how the heart works, we knew that one day it would probably take him without much warning. (Which leaves me wondering... why didn't he have an ICD?) Like this isn't sad enough, his daughter's wedding is this Saturday - unthinkable... I know that God has to have something awesome planned but it just doesn't seem right. Here is this awesome man who probably wanted nothing more than to walk his daughter down the aisle this week (and play the classical songs that she asked him to play on the piano at the wedding) and the Lord decides that there is something more important. I want so much to celebrate his life and what he accomplished here, but I'm left not asking "why?" but "why NOW?". My heart aches for him in his last moments and his family as they try to figure out how to make the next week happen. The funeral is tomorrow and the wedding is still Saturday. I wish so much that I could be there to help make it happen. Ben left last night and I opted to stay home with the kids - Ben should be there to say goodbye to his favorite uncle. He should be there to support his sisters and parents (especially his father) as they grieve too. Hopefully grieving can turn into joyfulness for this bride and groom somehow. Please pray for them as they work the logistics to make it all come together and as they experience the emotions that come. Please pray for this new couple to have a special serving of grace from God to get through this tumuluous time. Please pray for the extended family as they celebrate and grieve this week and may they be sensitive to the needs of the people around them. Lord, please help me see your hand in this and where my joy in *this* should come from. Thank you, God, for the time Uncle Steve was able to spend with us though. He was truly a man of You.