A week ago, my family was busy preparing for the Cowboy B Show. We were all at the Lufkin Civic Center for the final rehearsals and sound checks. Everyone was busy doing what they do best. The sound guy was working hard fixing this connection, adjusting that microphone, making notes of who was singing on what microphone during what song, smiling and having a good time while he worked. During the show, he did his best to make all the performers sound their best. He cracked jokes from the sound booth that caused much laughter from the 1000 or so people in the audience. Today, we buried him.
Kurt Martin died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack Sunday afternoon. We, my family and all that knew him, were left stunned. He was so full of life just two days before. Tonight would have been the cast party for the show. Instead, the cast and everyone else that knew and loved Kurt gathered to remember Kurt and aid his family in laying him to rest.
Such a change of events. No one had this written on their calendar. No one planned for such an event but we all knew that it could happen — to any of us. We are sad for ourselves and Kurt’s family. Although, when we stop and think about it, we realize that he is not sad for himself. Kurt was a Christian. He was living his life knowing this could happen at any moment. Kurt was prepared. In this, we rejoice.
I’ve been thinking about Kurt, about his influence he’s had on others, about his choices in his life and how they affected others. Those of us who have chosen to follow Christ live for one thing — the moment we depart this life and meet our Maker. That makes for some interesting choices that we make. Those that have chosen to not follow Christ don’t understand some of the choices we make. We don’t look for happiness in the same places as the world does. We know that true happiness is found when we serve God with all our heart. The world tells us that God would not want us to be lonely or to be unhappy. The world tells us that we need to do what makes us happy. Kurt knew that God wanted only one thing for him. God wanted Kurt to live in such a way that he would be in Heaven for all eternity.
Kurt was blessed by God to be allowed to live long enough to make the choice and change his ways to live his life for God. Kurt’s dedication to do what was right has been a positive influence to me and so many others. Sometimes, we have to do the hard thing to please God. Kurt did not opt for the easy way out, he chose the hard thing and learned to make the most of it. By doing so, he has given myself as well as others the courage to do the hard thing, to live for eternity and not for the moment.
I’ve also been thinking about forgiveness. The old saying that we hurt the ones we love is so true. Sometimes we do things to those we love that seem unforgivable. As I thought about Kurt’s family this week, I kept going back to their love for each other and their wonderful example of forgiving each other. It makes me wonder about the petty things I don’t want to forgive. Such a fine example this family has shown us all of forgiveness and acceptance. I will always think of them when I am faced with the need to forgive someone else.
One more thought I have had is how short our lives are. The Bible describes our life as a “mist that vanishes away.” In the scheme of things, our lives are very insignificant. We won’t be remembered more than a generation or two and then we are remembered no more. Everything we worried about, worked for, enjoyed, will be gone. What matters is how we live that short life. The way we choose to live our lives, the choices we make will influence our descendants for generations to come. We must make the decision to live so that our descendants will be encouraged to live for Christ. The way we choose to live our lives, choices we make will determine whether we will live with God throughout eternity or be sent away from His presence. Eternity is a long, long “time”. We can endure persecutions and hardship during this short mist of time in order to spend the endless ages of eternity with our God.
I consider it an honor to have known Kurt and to have been able to participate in helping his family say their good-byes today.
What a well-written, beautiful, thought-provoking post. I am sorry for your loss.
Thanks for sharing this.
My cousin, Amanda, is married to Kurt’s son, Grant. I didn’t know Kurt, but it certainly sounds like he left a legacy. My heart goes out to Amanda and Grant, his other children, family members, and his friends. Thanks for honoring Kurt through your words!
Diana, these are such important things to think about. Thank you for articulating them so well. I was on tenterhooks, though, wanting to know if Kurt was a child of God. So glad!