December 14 through 24 has been a whirlwind! It began with a call from Amy (1:00pm) just as we were leaving to clean the church for the Christmas cantata. "Dad, I just wanted to let you know that uncle Bruno passed away last night...." It was one of those terribly expected but still shocking calls. After a one year battle with brain cancer the Lord had taken Bruno home to be with Him. As I stood grappling with those emotions I began to think about the possibility of being with my sister Martha. The grappling came as I began to put the proverbial two plus two together and it kept coming up 5. Christmas time is a horrible time for travel. Add the nearly 5000 miles between New Jersey and Sorocaba and it gets "impossible". Impossible, unless you've got connections that is. "I'd like to be with her Lord, but your will be done." was my faithless prayer.
I decided to call a friend who always seems to get those deal of a lifetime tickets. "Let me make some calls and I'll get back with you" he said (2:00pm). He did call me back, "I found tickets for $400 round trip Sao Paulo to Newark. The plane leaves at 11:00 tonight, do you want them?" (2:45). Normal tickets for this time of year are in the $1100 - $1500 range, add to that scenario I need to leave NOW and the price goes to $2000. So, with that $400 price I realized that the Lord was moving.
Shawn graciously offered to take me to the airport that evening and we had great traffic until we got to Sao Paulo then it was gridlock. A trip that can take as little as 1:40 took 3:00 (8:00pm)! The ticket agent told me that there was no guarantee and the line was longer than I had ever seen it (I took cuts!). After 45:00in line I finally reached check-in and was rejected outright, "the plane is full". OK. Wait... no someone just cancelled, but there is someone in front of you... wait someone else just cancelled! YOU'RE GOING. NOW (11:00)!! God was moving.
After the excitement of travel came the sadness of loss and the, "What do I say, do, to help a grieving family." The answer came in an embrace and with tears. I've done little here but being able to be with family has been a special time.
Bruno's memorial was a blessing and touched many of his coworkers who came to comfort. Several left encouraged and saying, "We've never been a part of such an encouraging event." Seeds have been planted.
Just days later the adoption for Joel Austin Isings was realized. It had been four year court battle that was finalized nearly one week to the day after Bruno's passing. Joel is officially an Isings. His dedication yesterday morning in the morning service was a blessing.
The emotions of the week were at opposite extremes of the spectrum. If we were looking for a spiritual application it would be that of the incarnation. Christ left all to suffer. He left glory shared by no one else to suffer agony like no one else. He died for a wretch like me. He became my sin and I became His righteousness. That in an extreme and unimaginable opposite. And He did it for you and me.
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