A Journey Through The Past

It is a little hard to describe the last couple of weeks. I have had some pretty high "highs" and some pretty low "lows."

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to meet up with an old friend from college named Tim Krumal. It was great to spend time with Tim and to get to know his family a little. I probably hadn't seen Tim in over twenty-five years.

Tim has a beautiful wife, Jana, and four really great kids. Tim's kids are quite a bit younger than ours, and I was definitely reminded of how fun it was when Pam and I had kids that age. (They are not so bad now either). It was great to see the wonderful things that God has done in Tim's life.

We did some reminiscing and had a few laughs. We talked about challenges we faced after college and I had a chance to tell Tim about my spiritual journey -- a journey in which Tim played an incredible role.

My family had gone to church until I was in about the sixth grade. By the time I met Tim it had been a long time since God had been a part of my life in any meaningful way. I had known two or three people in high school who I was aware were "serious Christians," but other than that, I had all but forgotten about God.

I had been around "Christians" all my life (over 80% of Americans would say they are Christians) -- but Tim was different. Tim had a level of seriousness about his faith that I had only seen from a distance. It was something I really had not experienced before -- and it was both odd and refreshing at the same time. For Tim talking about Jesus came as naturally as breathing did for me. He tried in subtle, and sometimes not so subtle ways, to lead me back to faith in Jesus.

Tim poured into my life during our season together. And, although I felt no closer to God when our season together ended, looking back now I know without any doubt that God placed Tim in my life for a reason. Tim was knowledgeable about the Bible and had his arguments for faith together and all that. But, more than anything Tim was an just a great example of someone who lived what he preached. Tim showed me what it looks like when someone is sincere about their faith -- when someone really puts God first in their life and really works hard to live a life worthy of His calling.

Tim is the Pastor of Family Ministries at Auburn Grace Church, which is near Sacramento California. Not surprisingly, he and Jana have a real passion for teaching spiritual leadership in the home, and it was evident that they practice what they preach. I love Tim and his family and thank God for the seeds that Tim planted in my life.

After seeing Tim and his family I drove through the town in California where I did most of my growing up. It was fun to drive through the old neighborhoods and by the houses where my friends once lived.
Then, last week I learned that one of those old friends, who I was particularly close to late in high school, had unexpectedly passed away. I had not kept in touch the way I wish I would have -- although we did speak on the phone a few months ago. I am thankful for that.
Memories of the time we spent together have been flooding through my mind. They were all good. Ridiculous times; lots of laughs.