So far, this has been a rough year. First, my brother-in-law, Ted, passed away from lung cancer in February. He wasn’t a smoker, lived on nuts and berries and ran 5 miles a day. But cancer picks its victims in different ways. I loved Ted very much and enjoyed discussing theology and technology with him. I will miss him very much.

Then, we got a doubt double whammy on good Friday. First, an old high school friend of mine and his wife, Tom and Nancy Reed, were killed in an auto accident around 1PM. They were on their way to visit relatives in Nashville, TN, when their car crossed over the median and was hit by two on coming cars. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. They left behind two daughters 19 & 22 who were not with them at the time. The funeral was this last Friday the 13th.

Jim Kenyon, another classmate of mine, and my self attended the double funeral in Battle Creek. It was an extremely sad event. Tom was a retired Battle Creek police officer and a member of the Civilian Air Patrol. Nancy work for the City of Battle Creek as a legal assistant. Both were respected members of the community.

Since Tom was a U of M fan, their burial vaults were Maze and Blue. Police officers from all over the 5 state region attended the event.

The second double whammy occurred later that afternoon. Two grand children of some friends of ours, Bob and Ilene Woldhuis, were killed when the van that they were riding in slide sideways into a tow trunk. They died at the scene. They were 10 & 11. Their two other brothers, 8 & 9 were also in the van but were uninjured.

A memorial service for them was held yesterday. Their classmates, along with friends and family, attended the service.

I am not sure that I have any more tears left in me, but I know that God has a plan. Right now, we are totally exhausted.

As Solomon would say, “All is vanity.”