Remembering Ed.....

Dana and I went to the memorial service for Ed Arnold this morning.  It was a sweet service filled with stories, tears and laughter and I learned something about Ed that I never knew before.  I learned that he was one of the increasingly rare people who was actually born and raised in Austin!  His family shared  stories of his love for them---and fishing, his generosity and willingness to help those in need of his plumbing skills or anything else he could do.  He was even in the choir of a church he attended, though I am told that he couldn't sing, but he was willing to be a body and a presence to help fill the loft.  And,of course, we talked about his faith in and service to the God who called him home to heaven just over a week ago.  Daniel, in his message, spoke about how Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb, but how Lazarus was still wrapped in grave clothes that had to be removed so that he could live again in the world.  He likened it to God taking Ed to heaven where he would be free from his failing mortal body for eternity and where he immediately received his new perfect body.  We will miss him, but there is comfort in knowing we will see him again!.....