“Ken”

It’s rare to know someone a short time and yet experience deep friendship. We may know people over a lifetime and experience deep friendship, but to experience deep friendship over a few months is not common. How does this happen….what is it that allows this to happen? 

I met a man a few months ago that became my good friend; he didn’t just become my good friend, he became a good friend to many. This morning our good friend, this good husband, this good father, went home to God. After suffering severely and fighting fiercely against cancer for a long time, he finished the race. We miss him already. How did this man have such an impact on so many… in such a short time? Why did so many want to be around him? 

Ken bore his terrible suffering with such humility and honesty and gratitude. He fought for his life against this awful disease, for his family; he wanted to be there to care for his wife and three sons. There was no quit in Ken Marchinda. He was so honest, confessing his weaknesses…..” I’m afraid and scared…. I’m such a complainer….I’m not worthy…. where is God, why doesn’t he hear my prayers…”. He spoke what the rest of us are often afraid to say. At the root of all his tears, suffering and honesty was this big heart. Ken was a warrior for Christ. In his worse pains, he prayed for others that were sick and suffering, including my granddaughter. 

My son Jon captured what many of us have been thinking about our relationship with Ken: “Knowing/sharing/supporting Ken these last number of months has been one of the greatest honors of my life. It was a pure gift for me. His love for his wife Becky and his sons was fierce. He was a warrior for the Lord fighting and suffering all the way to the end. ‘Well done good and faithful servant! Fly to Jesus where there is no more pain,  no more suffering or death’.” 

We prayed for Ken to be healed of his cancer but God had another idea ….  even though we don’t really understand it. We wanted Ken to live a full life with his wife and raise his sons and see his grandchildren, and be our friend. I told Ken that I wanted him to come to my funeral; I didn’t want to come to his. Yet God’s ways are not our ways. One day we will understand how God worked his death at this time in his life to the good. In the meantime, “God sustains the fatherless and the widows.” (Ps. 146:9) God will be there for Becky and for Isaac, Max, & Alex.

So Ken you finished the race on this side of the veil, but your work is not done. Your beautiful family and all your many friends still need your help; we need your intercession from heaven. And one day we look forward to seeing you again…. and at that time it won’t be for a few months or even many years, but it will be for all eternity. And that will be very good news.