-The Light of
Navigation Series-
GOD AND CAPITOL
ONE
I wanted to
design the floral casket piece for my son's funeral. I had done this
also for his father when he was killed in an accident on his job in
1988. When I was a scared 18 year old kid in 1974, who had left
home to try and make it on my own, I was hired off the street by a
prestigious flower shop in the downtown area of Boise Idaho and
received my design training from two master florists. For many years
afterward I've worked various floral shops in different cities that
I've lived in. I came to Christ while working at one of those floral
shops in Corvallis Oregon. The floral shop manager was married with
two children, but also lived a secret life of homosexuality. A young
couple moved into his neighborhood one day, full of God's Spirit and
grace, and led him to the Lord. I saw a deep change in a man who had
led this alternate lifestyle for half of his life. I bowed my head
as I sat at my kitchen table one afternoon, and asked Christ into
mine because of it.
The funeral
home graciously gave me permission to do this casket piece in their
employee's break room the day before the viewing. I had also
notified my charge card company, Capitol One, about possible large
charges occurring from out of state because of anticipated funeral
expenses.
As I stood in
the local flower shop with my sister Mary, I wrestled emotionally on
the inside about using this charge card and desperately hoped the
expense would not be too large to pay off in a short period of time.
This casket piece would easily cost $400.00 or more. The flowers I
chose to express my heartfelt love for my son, were expensive. I
voiced the list of flowers and supplies needed to the floral shop
manager and waited for the bill total to be given. The manager handed
me her charges on a small slip of paper and it read $149.60. I was
stunned. God had moved upon her heart to charge me for the cost and
not the retail for the flowers. As I stood there overwhelmed with
God's provision in those moments, Mary had received a phone call from
a couple in Oklahoma. They had called to express their condolences
and to inform us to that they had just deposited funds into my
checking account for funeral related expenses. The amount was
$150.00. God had paid for the flowers twenty minutes before I had
the chance to and......
God doesn't
need Capitol One.
(Phil 4:19)
As I pulled
into my driveway in Tulsa Oklahoma 6 days later, having just flown
back in from Florida, I remember feeling like I had barely made it
through the previous weeks events. The sudden death of a loved one
causes immediate shock emotionally. Sleep is difficult for a time,
there is a battle with fear in feeling like you'll never be able to
handle everything, and your memory, long-term and short-term suffers
for a time before it gradually returns.
On my front
porch, rested a large package that UPS had dropped off. I opened it
after unpacking and there it was.... a beautiful grapevine wreath
with dried flowers gracing it's curves. Then it hit me.... I had
totally forgotten about taking home a live plant or fresh flowers for
a remembrance, as families usually do from funerals, and in the same
moment realized that the airline would not have allowed it. I broke
down in awe of the God who remembered this detail for me when I did
not. The loving God who knew I could not have taken something onto
the plane flight, yet made sure that I now had that beautiful,
cherished item of remembrance. My Father loves me and he loves my
son.
And by the way, God will use
Capitol One.
