The Good Guys Won

Another Saint has gone Home.

I just found out that the man who was like a grandfather (that I never had) to me is gone. Gone after 8 years of fighting against cancer. Gone after many, many years of sharing his faith with so many---because he lived it out. Suddenly, GT getting sanctioned by the NCAA isn't so important anymore. Although, he loved his Tech football. He used to stand up and do announcements at church, and if Tech won the day before, he'd say in a slow drawl, "Well... the good guys won yesterday."

What a great man. There wasn't a doctor who cared for him who didn't receive prayer and love in return from him and his wife. And there wasn't a doctor who could deny the miracle of a "6 months to live" death sentence turned into year after year of vibrant life, all to the glory of God.

Yet he was tired, and in pain. So now the day that he hoped for and that we've dreaded has finally come. I think I'll put on Andy's The Far Country and (continue to) have a good cry while I listen. I'm not sad for him, but rather for us that are left to watch and wait and wonder. I pray for his family, especially for his sweet, sweet wife.

"So when you lay me down to die/ I'll miss my boys, I'll miss my girls/ Lay me down and let me say goodbye to this world/ You can lay me anywhere/ But just remember this/ When you lay me down to die/ You lay me down to live..."
--Andrew Peterson "Lay Me Down" from The Far Country
lyrics posted via the "Fair Use" section of the US Copyright Act...

Kennan said once that this day of grief would still be a showcase of the ultimate victory... a triumph over eternal death because of faith in Jesus. And so it is. He had a wonderful life then, but he is truly living now.

The good guys won, Tommy, and we love you.