Losing A Friend

I lost a friend last week. His name is Hiram Cassel.

Hiram epitomized what it means to serve God. He pursued education and gained the credentials necessary to serve as a pastor/teacher in various churches in Oklahoma and Kansas. Later he served on the staff of Manhattan Christian College as a professor and administrator.

I first met Hiram in 1975 at University Christian Church. I sang in the choir with his wife, Marci. We remain friends today. I watched Hiram and Marci minister to churches throughout Kansas. Two churches come particularly to mind.

First, Anthony Christian Church. Anthony, Kansas is a small, farming community in south central Kansas. Anthony Christian Church was the church where my grandparents worshipped for most, if not all of their life. The pastor there is a graduate of Manhattan Christian College, and he has a genuine heart for the people of that small town. Hiram Cassel conducted numerous revivals in Anthony, Ks. My grandparents held Hiram in high esteem, and would ask about him when I spoke of Manhattan Christian College. What's more, Hiram asked about them.

The second church is Town and Country Christian Church in Topeka, Kansas. If I have a "home-church", it is probably Town and Country. My family worshipped there when we moved to Topeka, and for many years thereafter. Hiram also spoke at the church in Topeka. While I don't remember the occasion, I know it is true because Hiram spoke at one time or another at every Christian church in Kansas.

Hiram was not physically healthy during the final years of his life. In fact, it was noted at his memorial service that we thought we had "lost" Hiram on several occasions prior to his actual death. Hiram never gave up, he never "lost" hope. Lost...an interesting choice of words.

I have lost things before. When I lose things, I don't know where they are. I look for them, even search for them sometimes. I worry about them until I find them. I lose my favorite pen from time to time, and when I do, I search for it. When it is found, I put it in a place where it will be safe...secure...I know where it is.

Have you ever loaned something to a friend? Something of value? Sometimes, the friend will keep the item so long we think it is lost. I have, and I always glad to have it returned to me. Even though I know that my friend will take care of it, I feel better when it is returned.

Hiram...lost? No. Do I know where he is? Without a doubt, I know that Hiram is in heaven; he is worshipping at the feet of Jesus He is in a place that is safe...secure. Am I worried about Hiram? Not any more.

Maybe Hiram never really belonged to us at all. Maybe, just maybe, he belonged to God, and God had just loaned him to us. Loaned him to us because we had a job to do, and having Hiram in our life(s) made our job easier. We kept Hiram a long time. Maybe the job we had to do, with Hiram's help, is complete. True? I don't think Hiram would tell us it is true. Hiram would tell us to keep working...keep building the kingdom. He would also tell us that if we were paying attention, he taught us how to complete the task. The job is not done, but Hiram's part is complete.

Thanks, God, for loaning Hiram to us. We kept him longer than we thought we would, because we needed him. Hiram, like some tools, eventually wore out. While we replace tools, we won't replace Hiram. We can't and we don't want to. Hiram will always be a part of us, of me. But we are to go on with the project of building the kingdom.

I lost a friend? Not really. The owner just asked for his return. Fair, really, because he is the owner. Hiram was not mine...not ours, but God's. I will miss him, because he made my job easier, he made my life better. But he is not lost...he is home, right where he belonged all the time.