“I have died once and I ain’t gonna die no mo.” These words echo from the annals of black history as slaves who had experienced “being born again” would let you know by their conversation and conduct that they had “died to Christ” The church clerk called yesterday to inform me that Deacon Griffin had died. During the past six month at least three deacons have died from the local church that I belong too for now more than 15 years. Yes they were all well advance in age, with Deacon Griffin being ninety years of age and Deacon Fondren and Deacon Harris both being beyond 85 years of age. Deacons are servants in the Body of Christ and wait tables and provided assistance to the pastor. The position of deacon is one of the few positions that is authorized by the Holy Bible as found in the Book of Act. Deacon Giffin reminds me of my former pastor who said he was going to “wear-out and not rust-out.” And wear out is what he did as he work as a pastor until his last breath of life, the late, Reverend Dr. John Henry Rouse. Like Reverend Rouse, Deacon Griffin was busy until the very end, over the Laymen Affairs both on a local and state and national level, active as a dutiful deacon and not as a “devilish deacon”. As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, not too much has changed since time was split between BC and AD centering around the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures. As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday we still have the “Fair-U-Sees” and the “Sad-U Sees” with the former believing in the life here after (resurrection) and the later not believing. I recall a conversation last fall while attending a fish fry at one of my friends house. I overheard a conversation between two friends as the one friend asked about the welfare of former friends. “What about Carolyn (not the real name) and the other friend said she’s dead .What about Dave…? and the friend respond he’s dead.” Finally after three or four of these encounters and exchanges the one friend told the other friend, “everybody is dead but me and you.” I once explained to my sister that “we are they.” When we were younger “we” often referred to older people as the “they. With more that 75 years of attending yearly family reunions I remember the times when the young adults would stand at the back of the line for our family group photo. The really younger generation (all under the age of 10-15) would be at the very front, bending down or sitting on the floor or ground while the senior citizens would be “sitting” on the front row. Well all the seniors have crossed over from time into eternity (died) and now we find ourselves at the front of the line. The front of the line means most of your friends and love ones have gone home and the “everybody is dead but me and you.” syndrome kicks in. This is especially true when you are sent text messages from on high and you find yourself as a deacon or deaconess, waiting tables, ministering to others, including love ones and friends. So has it been as I witness the effect of dementia on many of my love ones and as I watch my “Rock of Gibraltar” crumble before my very eyes. You are selfish when you want them to stay here on planet Earth a little while longer. They are tired and ready to go to their eternal home. We use to “snap to this and snap to that.” But now father times has creped upon us and “we are they.” Our snap has now changed to “snap-crackle-and pop” as arthritis has set into our bodies. Eye-sight growing dim, hair getting thin, steps getting shorter and having problems holding our water are only a few signs that you have more time behind you and less time in front of you. Resurrection Sunday. Believe in the gospel or not, everyone will have to answer this question, “…But whom say ye that I am…?.” Mark 8:29…Hmmm
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