Let Somebody Love You

John 15:9-17
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2008 Harold Dinsmore

              It was dark in the room.  Not much light filtered in except that which flickered from the hall way.  Not much could be heard in the whole house.  The only sound was that of his breathing.  Regular breaths then there would be a long pause.  Silently watching was his wife, his two daughters and son.  His life had been hard.  Growing up during the depression his family had lost their farm and had to move out west trying to find work.  He was a veteran of WWII and had served in Europe having landed at Normandy.  He had always laughed that death eluded him his wife had told me. 

               He got out of the service and began working in the rock mines in the Kansas City area, for he was what was called a powder monkey.  He blew up rock for a living.  He blew up bridges during the war, and it was all he ever knew.  He was a hunter, a fisherman and a snake hunter.   He prided himself as a hard tack.  He didn’t need anybody.  If he couldn’t do it on his own, it wasn’t worth doing.  Years rushed by, the kids are grown.  He retired at 65.  Then his illness struck and it hit him hard.

               Jesus?  Church?  No. Hard tack?  He was that.  He never let anyone inside.  Not even his wife.  She said that she could count on her hand the amount of times he ever said he loved her.  He never really let anyone inside his world.  For him now it’s too late.  Having suffered a stroke.  He now is unable to communicate.  His body is giving out.  Pneumonia is raging and his lungs are filling up with fluid.  It reminds me of the Eagles song from many years ago when they made famous Desperado.  I want you to listen paying attention to the very last line of the song.  Let’s listen.