The Deacon’s View
Remembering Roger
Our dear friend Roger Post died this past week. He and his wife Sally
have been an important part of our lives for forty-eight years.
You may wonder why I’m writing about Roger in the
Epistle. One reason is that I can’t stop thinking about him. A larger
reason is that Roger modeled Christian commitment and friendship.
Roger came from a wealthy family. He didn’t need to work hard but he
did. He and Sally had their own four children, and they didn’t need to
turn their house into a constant youth haven, but they did. Over the
years literally hundreds of teenagers came to know the love of Christ
in their living room. They could have vacationed anywhere, but every
summer found them acting as counselors at “Malibu,” the Young Life
summer camp.
Roger died less than a month after being diagnosed with cancer. Up to
that moment he was still leading a different men’s fellowship group
every day of the week. He loved the Lord. He cared deeply for people.
He paid attention and listened. When Roger looked at you and said,
“Let’s pray about that right now,” it always seemed the perfect thing
to do, right there, whether “right there” was at a black-tie dinner or
on a hiking trail.
I know that our lives are different because of Roger’s influence. I
will miss picking up the phone and hearing him say, “Hey, I’ve got an
idea…” Roger always had an idea and a plan. He loved to prepare the
way, make the arrangements. I think about this now, remembering how
Jesus sometimes talked to his friends in this same sort of way. “I go
to prepare a place for you,” he said. Because of Roger’s tangible
example, heaven now seems a bit more real to me. Think of how perfect
God’s preparation will be!
When Roger was dying, I sat there holding his hand, and I found myself
thinking: “You’re doing it again, Roger. You’re going ahead of us.” God
bless you, dear friend. See you later.
Your Deacon, Gay
“Now we live in shadows, but with death we leave the shadows and enter
into the fullness of life and light.” –C.S.Lewis