One of my dearest friends on earth passed away Monday morning. Don was a giant of a man: a man of faith, wisdom and insight; a philosopher and a scholar until the day he died. He finally succumbed to age and Parkinson’s. He was my kids’ grandfather-in-residence while we were raising our girls far away from family. We joined together with him and Marian, his wife, and two of his daighters as they were planting the Nazarene Church in Laurinburg, NC. That was the church I was in when God called me to preach.
Don’s shadow was the one resting over me as I prepared for ministry. Much of what I am today as a pastor can be traced directly to the sharp insight, challenging words, and skillful hands of Don Ekis. I have never gotten away from those probing conversations. Nor do I ever want to. Last spring, Lana and I planned to see him on our way to SC. When I contacted Marian, she responded, we are leaving that very day to go to Texas to be near Carolyn. Oh, no! I didn’t want to think of it, but I felt in my heart, “I’ll never see Don on this earth again.” Still, I held some glimmer of hope that somehow, somewhere, sometime, I would. On Monday, that hope was gone. It was over.
But, that hope is in heaven with Jesus! I will have to await my own arrival there for another conversation. But, thanks be to God, in Jesus it’s never over!
The Bible teaches us that God is leading us “in triumphal procession.” He is changing us from glory to glory. What was the former glory is nothing compared to the surpassing glory that is ahead. Thanks, Don, for showing us the way.
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That's beautiful, Dad; thanks for writing about Don. I think you summed it up very succinctly when you first told us the news: "A sad day for our family. A glorious day for our beloved friend!" I loved the exclamation point you had at the end of your comment.. it was full of anticipation of the day when there will be no grief, no death, no pain, and no separation!
I'm praying for Marian and her family.
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