From the Pulpit: Surrender to your Savior today
Like many of you I shared in celebrating the life of our coach, Chad Garrow.
Mr. Bill Freking and Mr. Tim Sylliaasen powerfully related their memories and love for coach. Having coached and taught, I can assure you those relationships, those emotions are very real. Watching coaches and teachers struck me how blessed we are as a community to have such great people walking the halls and sidelines of our schools, mentoring our kids. Teaching so many life lessons. Mr. Freking captured for me the essence of how we must move forward, holding on to the memory of Coach Garrow, honoring that memory by learning from his life and legacy.
Pastor Kirk Strand related how in a relay race one of the most difficult moments is the exchange, the handoff. Coach Garrow oversaw countless handoffs on the field and track. Coach Garrow has run his leg, reached the exchange zone and now has handed the baton he carried to us, his neighbors, colleagues, students, athletes, friends, and of course his family. His race is run, completed, finished.
How can we continue? AJ, Savannah, and Alicia will miss him greatly. Their lives are different, now changed. Alternating between tears and smiles as they adjust to this new rhythm. Over the next weeks and months, those of you that know them can continue to support them through prayer, cards, calls, and simply being present for them. Your words most likely will be forgotten, but your acts of kindness in this time of mourning and change will be cherished for years. A simple gesture of condolence and empathy can go a long way.
How do we go on now that the baton has been passed? If Coach Garrow had one more chance to speak to his team, his community, I have no doubt, as part of the cloud of witnesses, he would urge us forward. In his unique and legendary way of few words, he would probably say something like, “This is your time, your life. Go live it.”
How can we honor the memory of our coach? Go take it. Don’t look back, don’t quit, don’t retreat. Go make it happen, go make memories, go make a difference. Make a difference where it matters most. Your family, friends, teammates, and even strangers. Go Make a Difference. It reminds me of the words that JESUS shared with the women at the tomb …Why are you standing here? GO! Make time for friends, family, fun … but do not leave your seat without surrendering your life and will to Jesus Christ. This is your time, don’t waste it. Make JESUS LORD of your life, HE is the game plan for winning in life.
The powerful modern hymn from Zach Williams points us all towards this plan. The soulful tune lays out the only, eternally significant, successful game plan. Jesus. There was Jesus. Knowing Chad’s faith and passion, I know he would want each of us to receive, embrace and surrender to his savior, Jesus, today.
