As we celebrate Easter year after year we are reminded that Jesus’ death and resurrection has brought us eternal life.  Since we may hear these words frequently, their familiarity may become more like a cliché.  What can bring us back to their real meaning is to experience the death of a family member or close friend.      

Eternal life was not a cliché to my friend, Louie Grams, who believed and embraced it up until his last breath two weeks ago.  Although suffering with various physical ailments for most of his life, he died in a supremely peaceful state, surrounded by his wife and five adult children.  His wake and funeral were filled with beautiful music, moving personal testimonies, and a joyous funeral mass.

Love and service to God were hallmarks of Louie’s entire life.  In addition to being a leader in the People of Praise Christian Community, he joined two other men in establishing Christians in Commerce, an ecumenical Christian outreach to the business community.  Louie introduced me to Christians in Commerce and its Challenge Weekend retreat in 1985.

While I had previously experienced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, I still struggled with bringing that faith to bear on my work.  Louie and Christians in Commerce showed me how I was to bring Christ’s presence into all that I did in conducting my work and relating to everyone.  Over these last forty years, Christians in Commerce, d/b/a WorkLight, has impacted thousands of lives in the workplace and how business gets done. 

I called Louie two weeks ago after he received his diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer.  While it wasn’t a long conversation, I think we both knew we were saying our earthly goodbyes to each other.  That’s the way it is with two brothers in Christ.  I will look forward to his bear hug embrace when we meet again paradise. 

Rest well, my good friend.  For God loved you so much that he gave you his only Son, that as you believed in him, you did not perish, but will live forever. (John 3:16)