Last Call?

Today I attended a memorial for a godly servant of God, Ron Hill. I know Ron from Emmaus, his wife Betty was my sponsor. Her mom attended my church, so I’ve known them for 30+ years.

Family and friends crowded into the church pews with people standing in the back. Ron’s family, colleagues and pastor had no trouble sharing glowing eulogies of such a servant to the community. He had served as a volunteer fire fighter and EMT trainer, as well as multiple positions at his home church.

At the end, they issued his Last Call. In my decades of ministry and funerals I had not previously experienced this tradition. It dissolved me into a puddle of tears.

A uniformed fire fighter walked to the front of the church and turned on his dispatch radio. A clear voice summoned all the county responders to listen. Then she said, “Calling Crew Captain Ron Hill.” A deafening silence followed. She repeated the call a second time. Another earth shattering silence.

Then her voice returned saying, “Last call for Crew Captain Ron Hill. October 24, 2018. Rest In Peace.”

Reading these words cannot adequately portray the impact as they filled the sanctuary bursting with loved ones then the silence returned.

Last call for Ron’s earthly responsibility.

And yet another call had come, that voice of love, calling him home. A first call? Not really, because that Voice has called Ron many times, calling him to love Christ, calling him to serve in ways a dispatcher would never know. And yet not a last call either, for the conversation between Ron and the voice of his Savior will continue. Ron had been listening to those calls for years and following those instructions.

And so when this call came, he answered. And now lives in the Presence of God which requires no dispatch or mediator.

Yes, Ron, as the dispatcher said, Rest In Peace. Enter into the joy of your true Master.