A New Year Always Has A Past

Over the last month, I have been struggling with the loss of a very dear friend, a precious brother in Christ - Lester (LJ) Brooks. He is no longer here to laugh, or sing, or joke around. I can no longer hear the passion in his voice as he reads Scripture from his Greek Bible. I no longer have anyone to hover over me while I am at the oven or to smack with my spatula to get out of my hot chocolate chip cookies. Cookie night allowed me to breathe again, LJ. It tears my heart apart every single time that I remember that he is not here with us. I am so jealous that Jesus gets to hang out with him, and we can't anymore.

Oh, how I miss you sweet friend! You were more of a brother to me, than one of my sisters is a sister to me. I know you weren't perfect - Kelsey told me that story about the amusement park rides. The fact that you were not perfect made you so much more precious to all of us. Regardless of your shortcomings, you still loved us, no matter what our shortcomings were. You never met anyone who you did not see as family. You saw past my upbringing, my family, my town, and my own fears, and just loved me as the body of Christ is to do.

I am a white girl, from a white town with horrific white history, who was befriended by a man of God whose only difference from me was the color of his skin. Every perspective I had been raised with was quickly crushed. Every bad story I had ever heard was quickly melted away by the warmth in LJ's heart. Every ounce of embarrassed that I was about my upbringing and where I was from did not deter him from our friendship, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Since LJ ran from this earth into the arms of Jesus, I have had several dreams that have helped me to cope with this loss, for it really is a loss. Those of us who loved LJ shared a piece of our heart with him. Now that piece of each of us is in heaven with Jesus, and we are left here. I have to admit, that makes me even more jealous for heaven. Lord Jesus bring me home the moment I have fulfilled your purpose, for I am unable to wait a moment longer.

My first dream was just that - LJ ran from his hospital bed into the arms of Jesus. He didn't question what Jesus looked like. He knew his Savior in an intimate way - a way in which we all want to know Jesus. So he just ran. LJ hadn't been able to do that in a long time, and when I woke up, I couldn't help but smile. He loved to run. He once told me that he would pray and keep his Scripture memory fresh while he ran. He desired to live every moment to the fullest purpose that the Father had for him.

My second dream was this. He was running with Jesus, asking every single question that he ever had on earth. His thirst for knowledge was unquenchable on earth, and I believe it hasn't changed in heaven. I dreamt of him running with Paul, gaining insight to that illusive Romans chapter 9. I dreamt of him running with the little children in heaven, gleaming even more love and faith in Jesus from their precious hearts.

My third dream was the hardest and easiest at the same time. It was a repeat of the first, running into the arms of Jesus, but it was just a little different this time. This time he carried a torch, flaming with the light of the Gospel. Just before he ran, his torch disappeared and reappeared in the hands of every person that he left behind.

He was one man with one torch. We are hundreds or thousands of Christ followers with hundreds or thousands of torches. I think we have three things we must never do. We must never stop running for Jesus, never stop diving into the Word, and never stop allowing God to fulfill the purpose that He has for us. 

A human life is a story told by God, and the story of LJ Brooks is a great one!