Pastor's Blog
Farewell, Brother Oliver Hunt Posted 4.09.2010
It was rather fitting. As the sun rose last week announcing the arrival of yet another Resurrection Sunday, our dear friend and brother, Oliver Hunt, breathed his last. It’s almost like he waited for that moment so that none of us would forget the hope and significance of that day in our lives. As he breathed his last, Jesus became the first fruits of all redemption.
Oliver has had quite a path to last Sunday’s glory. The long twilight of his life, if I can be honest, made me wonder at times what God was doing. His body gave out last week, but his mind? It gave out many, many years ago. And the journey to last Sunday was long indeed. But you know, Ollie never stopped smiling through all those days. He was a cooperative patient. He continued to bless those with whom he came in contact.
But we do wonder why the lingering? Of course. We wonder why such a slow and long ascent to heaven? We scratch our heads….and pause. But then after a bit we remind ourselves of the marvelous God we serve. I cannot help but think of Paul as he wrote Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” I love that verse, especially in the NASB.
As I think of Ollie I contemplate the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God. I cannot answer every “why,” but I can acknowledge that the ways of God are unsearchable. That His judgments are unplumbed. I cannot understand the ways of God, so I’d best close my mouth when I encounter a situation I cannot explain. I do not question the silence of God, but instead marvel at the mystery of God and the shallowness of my faith.
So Ollie and Nedra, thank you for your godliness through a long and torturous trial. You lit the path. You modeled faith. It was not always (or ever) easy, but you endured. Ollie endured to the throne of grace, and Nedra to wake another day.
As a church family we are indebted to them both as we pilgrim together. There were days in our not-to-distant past where the energy and determination of Oliver Hunt kept us going. In perhaps our darkest days, Ollie would not give up on us or the vision of what this church family could accomplish. But that is a subject for another day.
I will never forget Resurrection Sunday 2010. I learned afresh of the hope that resurrection provides. Because Jesus is risen, I can say with confidence that my farewell to Ollie was just for a while. Reunion awaits. Hope will not fade. And though questions swirl, the ways of our God are unsearchable. I trust His plan and the path He sets before me. Thank you, Oliver Hunt.
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