March 19, 2025
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I was looking out of the rear window of the ambulance as it rushed toward the Houston Medical Center. We passed through neighborhoods I had wandered my entire life, past familiar houses and businesses. And I wondered if this might be the last time I saw them.
That day I’d had an important business meeting and was pleased with the outcome. To celebrate, I stopped at James Coney Island for lunch – three hotdogs with cheese and onions, a bag of Cheetos and a Coke. When I got home, I lay down for a nap. That’s when the pain started – a deep, persistent ache in my chest. No matter how I shifted, I could not get comfortable.
Susan was out running errands and I couldn’t reach her. The pain continued, so I called my doctor. Her nurse urged me to head to a nearby emergency clinic. I drove myself.
On the way, I called my daughter, Erin, letting her know where I was going and asking her to try to find Susan.
At the clinic, I was greeted by an old fraternity brother, Randy Brlansky, whom I had not seen in years. I believe the Lord placed him there to ease my anxiety, and it worked. Randy’s presence comforted me at an uncertain time. The medical team ran some tests and determined that I needed to get to the hospital immediately. By then, Susan had arrived. She followed the ambulance as they rushed me to Methodist Hospital.
Once there, I was rolled into an operating room, where a young doctor explained that I had experienced some sort of cardiac event. He performed a cardiac catheterization and inserted a stent in my LAD artery.
Throughout it all, I kept wondering, “Is this the end? Is this going to kill me?” I stayed a few days in the hospital and they continued to monitor me. No angels or long-gone loved ones appeared to visit me or usher me home, so I figured my time wasn’t quite up yet. Eventually, I was discharged to pursue a renewed exercise regimen and a modified diet plan.
Dr. Chun Huie Lin, the physician who performed my procedure, continued to be my cardiologist for nearly thirteen years. I owe him my life. The Bible says, “Honor physicians for their services, for the Lord created them; for their gift of healing comes from the Most High …” Sirach 38:1-2a, NRSV Catholic Edition
But more than that, I owe Jesus Christ my eternal life. His words in John 5:24 assure us, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24, NIV.
That experience impacted my view of death and therefore, of life. William Sloane Coffin said, “The one true freedom in life is to come to terms with death, and as early as possible, for death is an event that embraces our lives. And the only way to have a good death is to lead a good life.” I believe that “good life” isn’t so much about accomplishments or possessions. It’s knowing God through His Son, Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit and trusting in His plan – both now and for all eternity.
Through that whole ordeal, what surprised me the most was the profound sense of peace I felt. Although I knew I might be dying, I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I felt a mix of emotions: disappointment at the thought of leaving my loved ones, resolve to trust in God’s will, and, believe it or not, excitement. “Is it over? Is this it? Am I about to meet Jesus?” I wondered.
I wasn’t ready to leave my family yet. I still had so much life with Susan I wanted to experience. And I wanted to watch my children and grandkids grow. Still, if it was God’s will to choose that moment to call me home, I was excited to see what lies ahead.
Spiritually, I have peace in knowing that when my time comes, I will be with the Lord. My prayer is that when He does take me, His purpose for me in this life on earth will be fulfilled and that He has fully prepared my heart and soul for heaven. Yet from an earthly perspective, I’d like to stick around at least long enough to dance with my granddaughters and my grandson’s brides at their weddings. (Actually, all seven of them are growing up so quickly, I might push that goal out a little!)
Henry Van Dyke’s poem, “Gone From My Sight” offers a beautiful vision of what awaits us: “I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, ‘There, she is gone.’ Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me – not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, ‘There, she is gone,’ there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, ‘Here she comes!’ And that is dying…"
Only the Lord knows what awaits us on the other side. But we don’t have to wait until our final moments to take hold of His hand. Surrender to Him now. Trust Him with your life today. Accept and confess Him as your Lord and Savior. And let him lead you, both here on earth, and into eternity.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, "death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2b, NIV
QUESTIONS
Are you prepared to die? Are you at peace with that reality? Are you prepared for life after death?
PRAYER
Lord, prepare us to be in heaven with You when our lives here on earth are over. Help us to trust in Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And, in the meantime, draw us away from the evil, darkness and sin of this world toward You, Your Light, Your goodness and Your heavenly Kingdom.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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