Eye Witness

A week ago today we sat in a lawyer's office and sold our house. The couple that bought our house were very finicky and we breathed a sigh of relief when the last paper was signed. Yesterday a plane crashed in our old neighborhood. A single engine Cessna went down in the backyard of someones home in Weddington Chase. The pilot did not survive. It was very strange to see pictures of our neighborhood from a helicopters viewpoint. It was sad to see the wreckage. My mind swirled all afternoon with questions: What if the plane crashed into a house? Did the pilot try to avoid the homes as he went down? How many people saw that plane coming and what were their thoughts? What are the people who bought our house now thinking? Would they have bought the house if this had happened a week ago? (selfish, I know). I woke up early this morning thinking about the pilot who perished. I couldn't go back to sleep. I thought about his family who were interviewed last night and spoke of how they saw their dad in the air as he was about to land. How they must have felt watching the plane disappear in the treeline. The question I kept asking the Lord was "did he know you?" Here was a successful business man with a loving family flying his plane on what was a beautiful afternoon. The next minute, he is gone. "Did he know you Lord?" I don't know that question and in the days to come maybe I will find out. But for now, I am wondering. How many people do we know, casually or deeply personally, that we never ask that question of? I have friends who knock that question out right upon meeting someone. That way they know. I have never been that way. There have been times that people in my life have died and I never knew they didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus. How much weight I carry for that. I have a responsibility to share the love of Jesus with everyone I meet. He expects this of me. This Easter weekend is another reminder of his great love for me and you. It's not some secret we should keep in the closet, it is a beautiful hope to be shared with everyone. Whether they accept it is not my responsibility, all I can do is what God asks of me. I pray this man knew Jesus. I pray his life, and death, will be a witness to others. I pray for his family and loved ones who are mourning the loss of this man. I pray for our old neighbors who will feel the effects of this for a time to come. Most of all, I pray the hope of resurrection Sunday rings loud and clear for everyone to hear.