Rest in Peace

My sister Ruth lived in southern Arizona not far from the Mexican border. The Huachuga Mountains provide a beautiful spectacle that can be viewed from her backyard.

Ruth's view of the mountains is even better this morning.  She passed away a few hours ago.

She is my oldest sister, and like all of us, she was far from perfect. But Ruth had a passion for life that could not be contained or restrained.  Even when her fiery feelings flowed in directions I found difficult to embrace, I learned to tolerate and then accept and eventually celebrate her passion for life.

One of the things Ruth was most passionate about was her faith. She loved Jesus... looked to him during tough times and lived for him all the time.

It was our mutual love for him that enabled us to move beyond personal, political and occasional theological differences to celebrate our oneness in Christ.  As Paul put it, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

Viet Nam was one of the trials that tested that promise.  Ruth's husband, Jim, was serving in Viet Nam while I was protesting the war here in the States.  Jim was killed in Viet Nam during his third tour of duty, leaving Ruth with their several month old baby daughter, Kellie.

At Jim's funeral I offered to travel with Ruth and little Kellie on her return home from Western Pennsylvania to Jessup, Georgia. She accepted my offer.  As we began the journey south, I thought our conversation would be halted and awkward because of our differing points of view regarding the war.  It wasn't.  By looking beyond our differences to our faith in Christ, we found common ground, the solid rock of our salvation to stand upon.

Along the way we stopped for a brief visit at Tennessee Temple Bible College.  Ruth had gone to school there and wanted to visit some friends.  She had been a music major and while we were there she was asked to do special music for the chapel service.  Ruth chose to sing, His Eye is on the Sparrow, and I Know He Watches Me.  It was a powerful testimony to the one in whom she had put her trust.

Here's a beautiful rendition of that song. I hope it touches you as it has touched me.