A day that will live for me personally in infamy.
I think it was 10 AM... on the dot. I recall the moment pretty well. I was on my way to a cattle sale. The cattle trailer needed air in its tires. I had backed it up near the Quonset and started the old blue air compressor and dragged the dirty yellow hose out as far as I could to fill the tires. I had taken the cover off the valve stem and laid it on the ground.
My mom came out yelling "Phil is dying, Phil is dying...." That's insane! That only happens to other people.
My brother-in-law was Phil. At the age of 45 he and my sister had been married for 20+ years and had two sons 15 and 11. I confess, I enjoyed the man a lot however we didn't get to see each other that much.
For me this time period was the most significant point in my spiritual growth ever. The realization of God's total sovereignty over life. Phil was in a hospital in St. Pete, Florida and I was in Northern Minnesota. God ordains life, both physical and spiritual before the foundation of the earth (Psalm 139 and Revelation 13:8) and this was the moment it was becoming real. I was kneeling in slightly muddy gravel praying to the God who could actually do something... the God who knew what was going to happen. I could do nothing, He could do everything.
My mom came out and said, "Phil is gone." Ouch!
All my belief in God came to a point. God is good. He works through difficult times. I saw and heard of His goodness throughout the coming weeks. Sure, I'm just the brother-in-law, but that time was the most significant for me Spiritually in all my life. God proved both that He was in control and that He could do whatever He pleased... according to His will, not my own. That was incredible...absolutely incredible. Phil was with Jesus, he had lost nothing.
Every August 27 I ponder what God taught me. I have in the last several years reflected upon God's sovereignty over life and been in awe at it as I ride a century (100 Miles) in memory of Phil. Part of this concept is the reason I can ride on the interstate without much fear. God knows my days, He knows my hours and holds my seconds. Nothing will stop His doing.
And I TOTALLY trust Him.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/02/Southpinellas/A_final_salute__too_s.shtml
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