My friend Jesse was called to his heavenly home on Thanksgiving. Over the years Jesse and I had many, not heated, but terse discussions regarding our beliefs, our politics, social issues, etc. Sometimes I would get very frustrated over the fact I could post the most innocent thing and Jesse would find a way to make a controversy out of it. He was passionate about his beliefs and there were times he challenged me to think about things differently. I imagine him today in Heaven debating the greatest theological minds and loving every minute.
I first met Jesse through mutual friends, Mel and Elaine, who no doubt have greeted him in Heaven. Mel, like Jesse, was a proponent of the unorganized church and they would meet with a group of men at the local Shari’s restaurant once a week.
When we moved to a piece of property near Jesse on Union Hill, we hired him to help us clear the land so we could build a house. He was a wild man in the trees. He’d climb to the very top and snap the limbs off on his way up. I have a video of him riding high in the treetops.
One Saturday morning after we had cleared the land and were living in a travel trailer on the property, Jesse came down the drive and gave us a little kitten that his dog Sarge had drug out from underneath his truck. We named him Fang because according to Jesse he put up a good defense against Sarge’s advances. Fang became part of our household along with our two little dogs and adult cat PC.
A few weeks after Fang became part of our family, PC got lost in the woods away from the clearing. I could hear him howling in the forest so I trekked out calling for him in a pair of shorts and flip flops. As I was looking I stepped up on an old rotten stump to get a better view. As soon as I stepped on the stump an army of yellow jackets came swarming out from underneath my feet, stinging and attacking me violently. In an effort to escape, I lost my shoe and I was frantic – jumping and trying to get away through the dense underbrush. It was then I began to think this forest life was not for me.
Jesse stopped by that evening to say hello and talk about life and God as he often did. When he heard my tale of woe, he immediately got up, left and came back a few minutes later armed with a can of hornet spray.
Now imagine this, it was dusk, Jesse was wearing only a yellow tank top, a cap, shorts and sneakers. With no other protection, he marched into the forest with this can of hornet spray and a big stick. He squatted in front of the rotten stump and began to dig into the nest with the stick and spray at the same time. He was like the avenger! Shockingly he did not get one sting but hundreds of hornets were massacred that night.
That’s the way Jesse did things, straight forward – without fear. No fear, only boldness about his faith as well. He was always ready for a great discussion or debate.
The last time I saw Jesse and Janna they stayed a few nights with us before venturing out to the east coast to be nearer his son and his family. Jesse spent a few days working on and repairing their motor-home for the journey. This motor-home was older and packed to the gills, I was more than skeptical of its ability to make it across country. Nonetheless, venture off they did, no fear, only faith in God to take care of them on the journey.
As we watched them drive away, I told Chris I feel like I am watching one of my kids drive off into the big wide world and I need to intervene or protect them. However, I know now what Jesse knew then, he relied on his God for protection and guidance. His faith was great and it saw him through many tough times.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 NIV
Emyloom ~ Words Woven Within My Heart 