Musings on Spiritual Matters

On Wednesday of last week, I received a call from my dear friend and mentor Burnice Wesbrooks.  We talk almost every week, so this was not a shock.  He was sounding weak, but often he likes to play jokes on me.  This week was different.  This time he never perked up.  He was calling me to ask for prayers because he was at the doctor’s and the doctor’s told him that he has severe cancer in his colon and in his liver.  There is nothing they can do to bring the cancer into remission, but can only delay the spreading of the poison.  The doctor’s gave him to options.  One was that if he did not do chemo he would live for perhaps another six months or he could do the chemo and the doctor’s stated that he might have up to two years.  He is wresting with the choice.  Do I pour poison on the poison?  Whatever the outcome will be, it was the saddest phone call of my life.  For those who know me well, Burnice Wesbrooks has been in my life for the last ten years.  He met me in Florence, AL on a vacation and connected the school to learn more about me.  He implored the Hartsville Pike congregation to support me while in school, he helped me be hired to work with the congregation, he placed the calls that secured the job in Waynesboro, and because of Burnice I met my wife.  In fact, it seems that all the progress I have had in ministry is due to his influence and mentoring.  In fact, I do not believe I would be in ministry today if it was not for his loving, guiding influence in my life.  During our phone call, he asked me if I would be willing to do his funeral.  This will be the greatest honor in my life.  It will be hard to do for me, but it will be my way of thanking him for all he has done.  He has given to me over and over again.  He has been the greatest influence on my life.  He has been my Paul and I have been his Timothy.  We are best friends, the most unlike pair, a 69 year old man friends with a 32 year old man.  I am so thankful to know that we are friends.  I wonder if Timothy had to travel to Rome to do Paul’s funeral?  Please pray for my friend.  Please mention him in your blogs and in your congregations.  And pray big prayers, not timid ones.  Pray for my dear friend Burnice.

Related posts:

1. I Need Your Prayers
2. Lunch with a Friend
3. Going to Tennessee this Weekend
4. I am Afraid
5. Leaving for Memphis Tomorrow

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This entry was posted by Matthew on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 11:18 am and is filed under Church News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.