Posted on 12/14/2001 8:01:03 AM PST by Rebelbase
My best friend, Rick, died of a cerebral hemorage early this morning. Talk about shock. I am numb.
Its funny how things happen. We had a party at Rick's last night, about 10-12 of us. Rick was in rare form, doing lip-sinc to the Harry Connick, Jr. Chrismas CD and throwing in Michael Jacksonesqe leg kicks and Elvis hip swings as he "directed" the band behind the singer. He was happy. The joke were flowing....Rick: "You know, Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, Do you suppose his phone number was 1 ?"
I left at 8:30 to take my kids home, the party continued. At 10:45 my phone rings, a friend tells me Rick is at the hospital. He started complaining of headache and went into his office room by himself. A few minutes later someone went to check on him and he was sprawled on the floor. By the time the paramedics got him to the hospital he was on a respirator. He passed on around 6:30 this morning.
Rick was one person who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. Five years ago I was a broken man after going through a soap opera divorce. I stumbled into a small shopping center church one night, at the end of my rope. The message was good and the people friendly. I was befriended by the jolly keyboard player, rick, and we soon became fast friends. We played practical jokes on people in the church and got paidback bigtime. I weasled my way into a band that Rick had started and soon I was playing there and along side Rick in the Church's praise team. We have played music together for nearly 5 years now.
Rick was my best and most trusted friend who had a heart bigger than ET.
18 hours ago we were having an outstanding time together. Now he is gone. You never know what tommorow brings. I know that Rick is free now. He has been released from everything on this earth that weighed him down, nagged and tormented him.
He has been set free and is now dancing in worship with God and his Angels....That's just like him.. He got there before I did.
I love you Rick, we'll catch up with each other later.
Your Pal,
G.
God bless.
You were blessed to have him as a friend, but he was equally blessed to have you.
Well put.
Safely Home
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.
Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.
And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus' arm to lean on
Could I have one doubt or dread?
Then you must not grieve so sorely
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's Will.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth---
You shall rest in Jesus' land.
When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!
All is Well
Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918
Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral
Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.
All is well.
I never know what to say at times like this, words seem so feeble. But, "I'm sorry".
If that helps any.
It is my firm belief that we will be united with those dear to us -- be they family or friend -- on the other side of the veil. Ask the Lord to touch your heart so that you may enjoy that comfort, and live for and look forward to that glorious day when all things will be restored in the arms of our loving Father in Heaven.
May the Lord bless you and your dear friend with peace, hope, and fond memories. And thanks for the opportunity to say something positive in these troubled times.....
May you be blessed in having known this man...I'm certain his life touched others in a most precious way...he's be rewarded accordingly.
HM <><
I hope you find comfort in all the memories, but partcularly, the last memories you have of him.
Mrs.L
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