Posted by Mike Mason on 1/29/2008, 7:27 am
206.74.5.222
I was amazed as I exited I-40 last night on my way to the funeral service held in Knoxville for Andy Wilson, traffic was backed up quite a ways. I saw lots of blue lights ahead and then it hit me. The reason for both a blue lights and the traffic was Andy. Andy was a Knox County Deputy Sheriff as is his father and his grandfather as well as his brother Adam. Adam and Andy are third generation law enforcement officers.
As we inched our way along toward Bridges Funeral Home on Rutledge Pike it became quite apparant that a very large crowd had shown up to pay respects to the family.
The closer we got it as obivious that many, many people were touched by the death of one so young, Andy age 21 had been playing softball since age 10, in 2007 he travled to the ASA Nationals with a B Class team and had be awarded All American honors at that tournament at the B Class Level. I had kept up a bit with the fact he was playing with some high profile mens teams, but All American at the B Class ASA Nationals is a real honor for any player.
We slowly circled the lot with a whole line of traffic in front of us, 4 times,waiting for an open parking spot, were ready to give up, then decided to go around a fifth time. We got a spot!
Then there was the line, at least 200 people outside the funeral home.
I saw Tim Laycock (Spirit Coach) and he was able to get us in to see the family. My mind went back to everyone of you, all the young men we have had the pleasure of coaching, being tournament director for, and all the wonderful youth we have come in contact with for the past 16 years with boys softball.
Each and everyone of you we care for and each and everyone of you we think fondly of. The nature of athletic competition, the pressure at times of tournament softball can create tense times, but the overall nature of what we do brings us many pleasures. The greatest of these is watching you all develop into manhood and take your place in society.
Twice in the past I've attended services like this for young men connected to boys softball whose lifes had been cut short by earthly measure, and you always ask why? Why this one Lord?
I was asking that question in my mind as I watched the funeral directors have to shut the doors with people still inline waiting to pay respects. The service had already been delayed over an hour to allow everyone time, but at the end they just had to start the service.
What I saw and heard then gave me answer to the question I had been asking in my mind....Why this one God...Why now?.... It seems Andy had recently made everthing right with his Lord according to the minister at his church that held the service, I felt ashamed at having questioned God and then did some soulsearching of my own and made peace myself in my own life.
God did not owe me an answer. He can operate as He wills in our lifes, but then I wondered just how many of the crowds I saw there that night were not ready for eternity. God used that young mans life to wake up in this 60 year man a desire of better serve and follow him. How many others were experiencing the same thing?
After the service the lines were still there as folks had waited yet another hour or so the pay respects. All in all it was a meaningful experience for me in many ways.
Why this one God? Why now? If you are searching for answers in your life I invite you to seek the peace oF God. I'm available 24/7 to humbly seek with you the answers to life questions.
Together we can experience the peace that Andy had. Call me and I would be honored to share the good news of God's love with you.
Your friend,
Mike Mason
(931) 761-5878
CELL (615) 417-5390
mikenginny@hotmail.com
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