John and I have attended four memorial services recently -- Vicki (King) Thompson (48) and Charles Fikes, Jr. (41) both passed away quietly in their sleep; the only diagnosis I have heard for both was pneumonia. Neither death was expected and came as a complete surprise to everyone; they will be sorely missed. The 3rd was Jeanette Dean, daughter-in-law of my good friend Ava Dean. Jeanette had not been well for some time.
Last Sunday afternoon, we joined family and friends remembering Willie Rudkin. Willie was our next-door neighbor, the owner of the 5 acres to our north. Just one year before we moved here, Willie had been given the heart of a 20-year-old motorcycle accident victim. He made certain we had a file of his medical history. At the time of his surgery, he was told his life expectancy was 5 years. He lived just a few days shy of 23 years with his new heart.
Willie was a good neighbor. We need never fear grass fires on the Fourth of July because he made certain his field was mowed. When we had a wedding in our back yard, and on other special occasions, he allowed folks to park in his field.
Willie was like a wind-up toy. If we spotted him coming for a visit, we knew to cancel any plans for awhile. He loved to talk. One of his favorite topics was his property. He told how his place once looked like a city park. He loved sharing it with families for picnics. However, because people littered and did not respect his hard work, he had to stop granting permission to use.
Willie especially loved his trees. When we first moved here, he had very recently planted a number of evergreen trees. Now, they have grown enough to obscure our view of Mount Saint Helens. When John had the greenhouse full to overflowing with bonsai miniature trees, he invited Willie over to see that 16-year hobby. Willie studied each tree or group of trees as John pointed out the manipulating skills it took to form the perfect work of art. He asked pertinent questions and was in no hurry to end the visit. When the guided tour ended, Willie summed up his feelings for John’s labor of love.
“Just think,” he said. “Someday, you could take these plants outside and plant them. Then they would grow to their intended size.”
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When asked "What would you consider to be your "lifetime scripture?", I flippantly answered I Thessalonians 4:11 because that was the first one I learned as a child. However, the scripture I would most like to be remembered by is Colossians 3:17: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (NAS)
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