I had gone down for one of the most restless nights I would have. I hadn't been there long when we were awakened. His condition was poor when we went to bed. We had asked the Father to take decision making out of our hands. We did not want to choose for him.

Lauren had gone back to school (an hour away) only a short time before. We had to call her back. Would she make it in time? Please Lord, let her make it back in time. Brad was called and returned. It was the wee hours of the morning.

His skin was mottled, his blood not circulating well. He did not look good. His blood pressure was low, his heart rate too fast, he was fighting, but not as hard as the hospital staff. They had become our friends. How do your friends tell you what is about to happen?

They sped around the room paying attention to every minute detail. The effort seemed to have become futile. Their faces had drawn long, and eye contact harder to give. They had seen this before. We had not, not like this.

Lauren and her suitemates arrived. Thank God, she made it! Her face and fury matched the need of the moment.

We gathered around his bed. Loud, invasive machines were turned off and removed from the room. Space which was always lacking, suddenly was our fortune. We could move about his bed freely, and we did. We clung to every part of him, and we prayed. We implored the Lord to spare him as life seemed to ebb from his body, but only if this was for God's greater glory! We felt selfish, but our hearts wanted to see our Savior receive what only He was due.

The numbers on the monitors were decreasing, the moment drew near. Nurses disconnected him from the significant amount of paraphanalia he was bound to. He was free, he was finally free. No more beeps or alarms to set off, the time was here. He had suffered for his Lord and Savior, and he had done it well. If he was going to make it, it was all up to the Lord. Only a miraculous recovery could restore him.

This was not to be. Shortly before 3:00AM, his heart ceased.

I stared at the ceiling, mouthing the words "I love you," over and over. I had heard enough stories of people hovering at the top of the room after their near death experience, I was hoping his departure included the vision of these words being spoken to him. I know he knew it, but I wanted him to leave us seeing it that last time...

Our room emptied of medical personnel for private moments. These were most difficult. Saying goodbye to your only son... your only brother, how were we supposed to act? What were we supposed to do? There is no etiquette to follow in such moments. We just loved on his body. The thing was, we knew beyond the shadow of doubt that he had been ushered into the Kingdom of God!

Revelations counted him among those who would be robed in white.

He was home. The slowest moving person in our family had arrived first!

The room refilled with medical staff. At 3:30am, staff on duty and staff off duty returned to room 2001 to offer their love and support. They embraced us in a way we neither expected or deserved. They were precious to us! We love them for their incredible efforts.

We love each of you for the hours you have spent on your knees on our behalf. Truly, we are a blessed family. Many have told us what an honor it is for us to be chosen "for such a time as this." We know this to be true. He was an ordinary young man who serves an extraordinary God. One who reigns! He reigns even today, and is sufficient to meet every need.

Before we went to bed last night, Lauren asked if I was going to stay up until 3:00 AM. "No," I replied. Secretly, I hoped to awaken around then, but I did not want it to be contrived.

At 3:20 AM an unnatural alarm went off. My fog-free, suction cup clad, shaving mirror decided to dive off of the wall and onto the floor of the shower...the only room that would echo properly.

I awakened, and I remember...

"Good morning BJ, it must be beautiful there where you are! I love you, son. I am proud of you!"

"Well done thou good and faithful servant...it is finished"


dad