For Whom the Bell Tolls

“No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main … Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

This classic meditation, written in 1623 by John Donne, reminds us of several important truths. First, each person’s life affects the lives of everyone else. Next, the death of any person impacts the lives of everyone else. Finally, someday every person on earth will die.

Someday you will die. The chances are 100%. You don’t know when, where, or how. But you do know this … someday your time on earth will end. And when you die, your life will have affected – will have impacted – countless others. And just as your life touched many people in life, your death will diminish the lives of many from then on.

On Tuesday, November 16 my life was forever diminished by the death of my good friend Wendy Olver. As a member of the Adult Ministries staff at Willow Creek North Shore, she was the first person people met when they arrived at church. Wendy had an outgoing personality, a magnetic smile, and a genuine interest in people. There are many, many people at our church who came back a second time because they met Wendy during their first visit.

Wendy once asked me to help her identify her top spiritual gift and how to use it in ministry. After a few practical exercises, and a lot of discussion, it became clear that her top gift was Encouragement.

Later I sent her a summary of our conversation and wrote these words. “Wendy, your primary ministry is to speak into the lives of believers encouraging them to press on and not give up despite hardships or trials. If someone has wandered off the path you come alongside them and lovingly lead them back on the path. Your message to people is: ‘Jesus loves you more than you could ever know.’ Or as our pastor Bill Hybels says, ‘You are a treasured child of the Most High God.’”

That, in a nutshell, was Wendy. On Sunday morning Wendy served the masses, welcoming them to our church and making them feel at home. But the rest of the week Wendy met with a lot of people – primarily other women – to help them keep walking with Christ despite difficult circumstances. She was a “come alongside” minister of the gospel who walked with people in dark days and showed them the way back to the Light.

I will miss Wendy – far more than I’m allowing myself to feel right now. She loved people, and people loved her right back. Wendy encouraged me by setting up classes for me to teach at church. Moreover, she always attended those classes when they were held. She was one of my strongest champions in ministry. How greatly I’ll miss her – both her friendship and the support she gave me.

Life is short. Death comes too soon. But Wendy packed in a whole lot of impact in her time on earth. I also have no doubt that she is with the Lord right now having heard Him say to her, “Wendy, well done my good and faithful servant.”

Farewell Wendy. Thank for who you were and what you did. I’ll see you on the other side.

© 2010 Designed to Serve®