My Uncle Cal

My uncle Cal was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Some of you have dealt with this deadly affliction yourself - with your spouse, or mom or dad, or grandparent. And you understand how tragically this disease impacts the whole family. Uncle Cal has recently had to retire from work, because of this disease, and is currently at home with his wife. He served in the Marine Corp as a machine gunner and was wounded in Viet Nam. He went to bible school many years ago and has served as deacon for his church for quite some time. He raised three lovely children (my cousins) and is my godfather who stood with me when I was baptized. It is difficult to see anyone, much less a close relative whom you love dearly, be affected Alzheimer’s.

Cal and I share some things - I was in the Marine Corp right out of high school. I'm in the ministry. Cal is my mother's brother - mom passed away July of last year. His struggles with this disease touch me quite closely.

We visited Cal and his wife this last weekend. What a wonderful visit. You would not suspect anything amiss, from just sitting and visiting with him. However, Chris (his wife) mentioned he can no longer drive. And while he loves to read, he gets quite overwhelmed when visiting the local library to find new books. And he has some difficulty following the printed words of a book - so he is listening to books on tape (CD really) more and more.

There is a sense of helplessness in watching someone go through this. You know you can't change what is happening. There may even be a question of where God is in the midst of all of this. If God is a loving, kind, generous God, then why does he allow something like this to happen? I don't know if I can answer that question to everyone's satisfaction (perhaps my own included). What I do know is that God has never promised any of us an easy life. Many of the biblical people we talk about each week have had tremendously difficult lives. Yet, God promises to be with us and to give us strength to see us through the difficult times. When we find our strength failing, and our faith flagging, perhaps we can remember that we find more strength in the relationships with those around us. Those who are willing to pray for us, to sit with us, to hold our hand when we need holding; they give us strength and remind us of God’s love for us.

“Then I saw a new heaven and anew earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the old order of things have passed away.” (Rev 21)