Blinkity Blink: What Happens Next in the Life to Come?

Blinkity Blink: What Happens Next in the Life to Come?

Have you ever wondered whether there is a life after this one? Are you curious about what it's like? As a pastor, I have shared the answer to these very questions with tens of thousands of people. I pray this book is helpful to you, especially if you are in a season of loss and mourning. Linda Le Beauf has been my faithful partner in this endeavor. She greets people every Sunday morning at our church. She is outgoing, friendly and retired from her career. She has raised her family and has an abiding resolve that she is nowhere close to being done with this life. She cruises regularly with family and friends. A few years ago she responded to an information meeting at our local church where she could learn a little more about the bereavement and funeral ministry. It's there where our friendship partnership began. Since that time we have found ourselves together with families at the most delicate, precious and vulnerable moments. We have wept with people. Together, we have also laughed and rejoiced with people. We have endeavored to lead people along with their families and friends forward through the process of grieving and honoring their loved ones in unique, profound and well-fit ways at memorial and celebration of life services and along the journey of the healing process. Often I have heard Linda say, “God called me to this ministry”. That may sound odd to some. But, I fully understand it because I feel the same. God has placed me with families on late nights in hospital rooms as their loved one breathed their last breath. He has appointed me to the heartache and immeasurable loss of a still born baby. I’ve sat by howling parents who discovered their teenager took his own life. Neither of us would call this ministry a burden , but rather a strange blessing in our life and privilege to represent something of God’s love to each we encounter. Linda’s brother died when only eighteen years of age. Unexpected and early loss of life of a family member has a deep and powerful effect on the lives of siblings, who if they understand the frailty of life will cherish it. Linda does. I had no idea that even from a young age as a pastor in my 20’s that I would spend a lifetime ministering to families who are facing death and offering some solace and comfort. My childhood had almost no loss of life. My mom’s dad (grandpa George) lived far away and when he died, I didn’t think much of it. I had a handful of memories from very early meetings. My grandmother on my mom’s side lived long, as did both on my dad’s side and I have fond memories of each. Perhaps the closest person to die young was my friend Rory’s brother, Rod. The circumstances are tragic and accidental. And I know God appointed me to remain close to Rory through our years as young adults. We spoke of Rod, but never the circumstances of his passing. In ninth grade, I remember the news circulated about a life-ending accident that occurred when Tim (a friend throughout junior high) had slid his motorcycle on gravel which led to a head injury that took his life. I attended the memorial service which seemed surreal and as if I was floating through the ceremony as they talked about concepts I’d not considered- the brevity of life, heaven, and salvation. A balding preacher (who later I would know as pastor Greg Laurie) explained each of these and how Tim had put his faith and trust in Jesus only months earlier. When invited to pray a prayer of repentance and accepting Jesus, I repeated the ‘sinner's prayer’ and lifted my hand in affirmation. I will confess to you that not much of my life changed. But, I firmly believe spiritual seeds were planted that would grow soon enough. My prayer is that God will use what I have come to know and have experienced to be of value to you.