Come Home

I’ve often written about my friend and brother, Diehl Martin. Though we were separated by distance, Diehl and I enjoyed a close relationship through his blog (http://diehlmartin.com/cancer.html), email, and phone calls… right up until his death in October of 2007. Diehl recorded his journey right up until 2 days before he died. He wrote about his experience with cancer, but his focus was always on God.

Today, I found myself humming an old hymn. This is exceedingly rare, as I was brought up Roman Catholic, and never experienced the old-time spirituals and hymns. Well, the hymn reminded me of an email I sent Diehl in response to a blog entry. I’m going to share both with you. From the date, you can see that Diehl would continue to run his race for another month before he would come home to God.

From The Cancer Blog:

Sep 15, 2007

Something went further wrong last night. It looks to me like more pulmonary embola have formed, or it has otherwise progressed. I now have problems breathing while just sitting down, with the oxygen running. Getting up and going 20 steps exhausts me and I get a heart rate of 160+, and become very dizzy immediately. If this goes one bit further, I could see going Home this week.

The Lord is absolutely faithful. I have nothing to fear in all of this. This is merely a body failure, and says nothing negative about His love and care. I hear people say, “Why me?” Well goodness gracious… that is a crazy question. Don't you ever want to get to go Home? I don't know about anyone else, but I will be happy to be “Promoted to Glory.” So when I go, please have a rousing sendoff, and invite everyone who comes to meet Jesus. Because, after all, my life is not about me, it is about Him.

Hymn time!

As a very happy Baptist, I have usually heard this hymn as an altar-call, at the end of a service. However, during this very difficult time, it has become one of my all-time favorites.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

You can find more about this and other hymns in The Cyber Hymnal.

Here is my response to Diehl’s post. I wrote it to Diehl, but upon reading it again, I find that most of it applies to ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ who are alive in His Spirit!

Diehl,

Every day, I look forward to reading your latest blog entry. It is an incredible gift and an awesome blessing to those of us that read what you share each day. It's obvious that, although your body is growing weary, your spirit is stronger than ever.

Did you feel? Did you hear? "Prison singer" though I may be, I sang the entire hymn... including the refrain following each verse. Since the windows are all open to allow the night air to cool the house, I'm sure some of my neighbors were wondering if a coyote might have been attacking a cat. You may recall that a "prison singer" is someone who is behind a few bars, and can't find the key. Yet, sing I did. While I sang, I imagined your wonderful voice accompanying me. Who knows, perhaps you were. I do so love the refrain:

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

The refrain really moves me. It speaks to each of us, no matter what our current situation. We are all being called home. When we turn and listen to the sweet call of Jesus, we can turn our weary selves toward home... no matter what our estate, situation, or physical condition.

Though we are separated by a continent, I feel closer to you than ever. You remain my most amazing and steadfast brother; ever the example and ever leading the way. When I was born again, I was born into a spiritual family. There is no denying that there are a lot of astounding people in my spiritual family, but YOU are by far my closest brother! I love you.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave