Tip of My Iceberg

Life can become so busy that we fail to find the energy to be there for others. Not because we don’t care; life is exhausting.

When people choose to show up, ready to love, accept, and encourage, it’s as if a window has been opened and the sun and fresh air come streaming in.

My friend Karen was that opened window. Her smile lit up a room. Her laugh was infectious and melodious. And she cared deeply for everyone she was around.

I had the privilege of attending her celebration of life service, a time when friends and family came together to honor a woman who had touched so many lives during her 82 years on earth. A woman so committed to loving others that, even when she corrected you, you felt cared for, not criticized. She loved people because she loved Jesus, and His passion for the world was reflected in how Karen lived.

She and her husband Dave spent 51 years ministering to people all over the world. Karen’s gift of hospitality made her home a center for people to come and feel love, safety, and a powerful sense of God’s presence. In Africa, she cared for single moms, orphans, and refugees by opening her home, providing shelter, clothing, and any help she could to help people get jobs. In Germany, she led Bible studies, enabling others to love His Word as she did, and welcomed students into her home. Her ability to see others, value them, and help them discover the best in themselves was a gift she poured out on others.

Karen and Dave were in New York City when the World Trade Center towers were toppled by airplanes ramming into them. Her immediate response was to buy water bottles and pass them out on the street to those working, those too stunned to grieve immediately, those overwhelmed by the loss. She brought the love of Jesus to those grieving at Ground Zero.

When Dave had his heavenly homegoing about seven years ago, Karen didn’t stop living. She kept serving, kept being present for others, and continued to love well.

Cancer slowed her down over the final months of her life, but it never took her out of the life of loving others. When she finally breathed her last, leaving the pain of this world for the glory of heaven, her beloved husband Dave and Jesus Himself were waiting for her. She is home at last.

I got to know this remarkable woman as we worked together at our headquarters in Orlando. I don’t ever remember her not having a smile on her face or a kind word to say to others. Karen never sought the limelight; she was one of those who worked behind the scenes, making life easier for others, seeking to encourage and uplift those who needed it.

One of the things I loved about Karen was her commitment to her values. She was kind, but she was not spineless. She stood strong for what she knew to be right; she was a warrior of truth, a woman who would not bend to peer pressure. She could make me laugh one moment and speak insightful and wise words the next. She boldly lived out the gifting God gave her. She never hesitated to help others; her joy came in serving.

My friend wasn’t perfect, but she owned who she was and what she believed. And she believed in Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength.

It was a mixed blessing to be at that celebration. I will miss her quick smile and soft hug. But I know for a fact I will see her again. Heaven will be the gathering for all those who love Jesus, are confident in their eternity with Him, and will celebrate God’s forever family.

If I’m not mistaken, Karen will most likely be helping with the preparations for that beautiful feast.