I am sitting on a plane, returning from, literally, a once
in a lifetime experience. I had the privilege several days ago to celebrate Rob
Partin Sr.’s life with his family, extended family, and hundred’s of dear
friends. The outpouring of love and affection towards Rob and his family was
humbling, encouraging, and as I sit here on the plane reflecting on my time in
Louisville, I would add overwhelming to the emotions that surge through me in a
sort of quiet peace and solemnness.
In 4 days, I have learned so much. I have gained so much,
but I am grateful most that I think I have changed so much through friendship
and through observing life behind the ugly curtain of cancer, which was only
ever a sheer cloth barely tacked up over the Partin lives. There is little
“normal” about the way in which this family does life, which is what made the
special tribute in death so brutal and beautiful to bear witness to.
Though I knew Rob Partin Sr., only peripherally, I always
knew I was in the presence of someone great. Someone, kind, gentle in spirit,
someone who knew Jesus and exemplified him in every hug, embrace, thoughtful
word, gesture and smile. In the Dominican he served with passion and fun. At
his funeral, this was never more evident as person after person paid tribute
and gave testimonies of Christ in Rob.
I believe, so much more now, in the importance of ingesting
these beautiful experiences we are allowed to partake in, to learn from them,
to carry on pieces of the legacies left behind by The Great’s… to be different.
Rob Partin Sr. was one of The Great’s. The most profound attribute of Rob’s that I am
taking home to the DR with me, is this: Rob was a man who encouraged others. It
appeared as if he never wasted an opportunity to admonish a brother or sister,
in genuine love. He didn’t blow smoke, he observed and he encouraged. He did
this with his family (almost each family member read a portion of a letter they
had received from Rob encouraging and admonishing them and thanking them for
what he had learned through their faith and their lives. I am sure it was hard
for them to choose which letter to read, because he took time to do this
throughout the years), and it didn’t stop with his family. He just embodied
Jesus, and took opportunities to be with people. I think he knew what was
important in life.
I never heard anyone from the family say “I wish I could have… I wish we had said…” There were
no regrets, because this man lived a life on purpose. He did not waste it or
come to the end of life with a list of shoulda, coulda, woulda’s… Oh that we would
all live a life on purpose in this way.
Matthew
6:33 says “But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(NIV)
The
NLT puts it’s this way “Seek the Kingdom
of God[a] above all else, and live
righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
And the Message says it this way “If
God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are
never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his
best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so
preoccupied with getting, so
you can respond to God’s giving.
People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you
know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative,
God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday
human concerns will be met.”
Wow.
Oh that our lives would be ones that seek first His glory
and Righteousness.
Oh that our lives would be spent telling others the glory of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Lives encouraging and spurring one another
on towards Gospel Christ-like living.
Lives responding to God’s giving and not being so preoccupied on
“getting.”
I want to not waste “it.” I want to live on purpose.
I want to take time to mourn with those who mourn and
rejoice with those who rejoice.
I want no records of wrongs and no regrets at the end,
whenever “the end” may come.
Jesus calls us to each and every one of these things- they
are possible with his Spirit living inside of us.
As one man’s life, here on Earth has come to a close, I find
myself invigorated and filled with a new passion and zest for living in the
ever-present moment of today. For that, I am thankful. Thank you Jesus for the
gift of these last four days. Thank you that your legacy lives on through one
man’s life, through his family reaching and touching lives everyday.
Thank you God that you speak to us still, through the wind
and the trees, in life and in death, in worship and plane rides, and every day life
and friendship and your Holy, Spirit filled Word.
Thank you Partin Family, for pulling the curtain back and
allowing us to see the beautiful and brutal moments and truths of living life
to it’s fullest in spite of an ugly, life taking cancer. Thank you Jennifer for your honesty, your
tenderness, your humor, your humility, (and let’s be honest for sharing that
Derby Pie at 11pm… my pants are a bit tighter on this airplane ride, thank you
very much! J).
You are a beautiful woman whom I admire deeply and am always greatly encouraged
no matter the length or depth of the conversation.
Will and Audrey, there are no words for the gratefulness our
family feels to be able to “do life” with your family. We are spurred on and
challenged in all the right ways by our friendship and closeness with you both.
Today I am solemnly thankful that we
have each other to celebrate and mourn life’s moments with.
Here’s to living life on purpose.
Jackie
