Greetings friends and family in Christ.  Back in March a dear friend, former Church of God (Seventh Day) Minister and Pastor, and great Local Church member died at the age of 85.  His name is Garland “Guy” Brunson.  Having done the committal service back in March, Pastor Brian Franks, Pastor Barry Mauldin, and I are preparing to do his Celebration of Life Service now, because of the social distancing requirements preventing the service at the time of his death.

In the interview with the family, in preparation for the eulogy, one of the questions I ask is, “What was one value or lesson he most wanted to teach the next generation?”  The family replied with an extended version of the following three points.

1. The value of work
2. The strength of commitment or determination
3. The power of vulnerability

Guy was one of 10 children.  Being born during the Great Depression he lived out the Dust Bowl Days of Oklahoma and worked extremely hard with adults to help feed the family.  Plowing fields that turned to dust, he learned the lessons above from his days of childhood and into his adult years through callused hands and faith in God to provide when provisions seemed to disappear before their eyes.  Guy was a kind man full of determination to finish whatever he started with seldom if ever a harsh word for anyone.  He was a large calibre man of great character.

Guy found strength and lived his life through his faith in God and the finished work of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Another interview question I ask is, “Is there anything he hung on his wall that identified him or revealed his values?”  I learned Guy and Joyce Brunson, his wife who died in 2017 after 62 years of marriage, had a plaque on their wall that simply read, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Google helped identify the poem from which it came to be “Only One Life, ‘Twill Soon Be Past” – Poem by C T Studd

I want to share the poem with you.  I hope it will be a blessing to everyone.

Only One Life, ‘Twill Soon Be Past

By Charles Thomas Studd

    Two little lines I heard one day,

    Traveling along life’s busy way;

    Bringing conviction to my heart,

    And from my mind would not depart;

    Only one life, twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Only one life, yes only one,

    Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

    Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

    And stand before His Judgement seat;

    Only one life,’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Only one life, the still small voice,

    Gently pleads for a better choice;

    Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

    And to God’s holy will to cleave;

    Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Only one life, a few brief years,

    Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

    Each with its clays I must fulfill,

    living for self or in His will;

    Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    When this bright world would tempt me sore,

    When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way,

    Then help me Lord with joy to say;

    Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Give me Father, a purpose deep,

    In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

    Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

    Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

    Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Oh let my love with fervor burn,

    And from the world now let me turn;

    Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

    Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

    Only one life, “twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Only one life, yes only one,

    Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

    And when at last I’ll hear the call,

    I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

    Only one life,’twill soon be past,

    Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

      — extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,

If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.