If time flies then it must be at the speed of light in my life. It seems like just yesterday I was walking through life and serving the Lord alongside of my best friend. Honestly there is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about Clint, the life he lived, the people he loved, and the God he glorified most. I honestly believe friends like Clint are once in a lifetime. For what seemed like such a brief time I was blessed to walk with a man of great integrity, character, and love.
I often teach my students the importance of influence. How they can be a person that influences those around them and point others to the message of Christ. Without a doubt Clint influenced people everywhere he went. I will never forget the scene of a funeral packed to the point of people in the choir loft. Not just people he grew up with or went to school or church with, but waitresses from restaurants we ate at, people from other stores in the mall where he worked, people who may have only had 5-10 min conversations him, people he influenced in a moment. Those are the same people I walk by in my everyday life and pass by not even thinking about how I have the opportunity to impact them. God forgive me for missing the opportunities to influence those around me; those that you allow to cross my path because I am called to be the Salt and Light but I just keep going on about my business.
Tonight as I left the church I stopped and just sat on the corner where the accident took place. I was amazed by the power of the mind as I was flashed back seeing between the blurs all to clearly… the noise, the people, the lights, the panic, the fear and the short direct questions I nearly shouted in fear. It was like stepping back in time. As I sat there I began to pray for his family and friends left here. His mother, sister and brother whose resilient strength is awe inspiring to say the least. I thanked God for using Clint for His glory. That’s how I can make sense of the tragedy, by resting in the sovereignty of God and that all things bring glory to Him. It was in this moment when I noticed something that had been there for a while but I overlooked it. See, after the accident it was obvious that the traffic pattern needed to be changed. A turn lane was added and a concrete median was placed in the middle lane creating a right turn only onto Hwy 17 or a “One Way” exit from the shopping center. I just stared at the One Way sign in awe of God. “One Way” was the title of one of our favorite worship songs we played together and if I’m not mistaken we played it that very night five years ago. “I lay my life down at your feet ’cause your the only one I need, I turn to you and you are alway there, in troubled times it’s you I seek, I put you first that’s all I need, I humble all I am, all to you…One way Jesus, You’re the only one that I could live for.”
If Clint were here today the cry of his heart would be that there is only One Way to an eternity with God. One Way to spend eternity away from pain, loss, heartache, troubles and trials. The One Way is Jesus Christ. The question he would ask us all would be “Do you have a love relationship with Jesus Christ?” A true and real relationship with Jesus, not just an act or religious ritual. Are you walking and talking with Him each day? Are you being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and being transformed more each day into the image of Christ? Oh, God I pray for those I influence that they see the One Way shining through me. I pray my Christian brothers and sisters that they would stand boldly for you in every place they go. God thank you for my dear friend who you are holding in your arms today. Thank you for his example and influence in my life. To your glory!
