Saying Goodbye to a Treasured Friend

I will always remember the first time I met George Sabin. It was in March of 1998 and I had come to Pasadena from Upstate NY to preach my candidating sermon for Trinity Church and to be examined by the Presbytery. I hadn’t officially started working at the church yet, but the choir wanted to meet me before I preached on Sunday so they invited me to come to the Thursday night rehearsal. The first thing George said to me after we were introduced to each other was something like "Good Lord, you mean they’ve called another woman???" And I thought to myself, hmmm this is going to be interesting – I wonder how I’m going to get along with this very stern-sounding, obviously well-respected gentleman in this my soon-to-be congregation. Little did I know then, that George Sabin would come to be a treasured friend that I along with countless other people in this church and community am honored to have had the privilege of knowing. His influence upon us all has been immeasurable.

I looked in the church records – George and Florence Sabin were the 157th and 158^th members to join Trinity Church – on Dec. 7, 1952 – he was just shy of being a 60-year member! He was first elected to be a Trustee in 1954 and from that time forward served the church continually as a Trustee, Elder, and most recently as a Deacon until he and Ruth moved up north to Morro Bay. George was active in the choir, served on many, many committees, in all sorts of fellowship activities, and he was the proud drummer in our Dixieland band for over 20 years.

I don’t think George ever met a stranger – he had friends everywhere -- Marine Corps buddies and lifelong friends from Pasadena Junior College, neighbors, people all over Pasadena and beyond, the Maestros and Bonsai friends – George was continually involved and making connections. Phil Andreen reminded me that George was one of only two persons ever to be given the award of becoming an "Emeritus Maestro." And who could ever forget his annual 4^th of July 0-800 flag raising ceremonies!

George lived a big and full life, but in all things his family came first. In a note Susie wrote she said her Dad was, "full of compassion, love, humor and having fun. He loved his wine, women (all of us) and song." And she shared the words from a Father’s Day card that she had given him that he had saved – she edited it a bit to include her brother Jim – in the sentiment:
"When we were little, as far as I we were concerned, you were the center of the universe. Together with Mom, you gave us a special world that we have appreciated and quietly thanked you for every day of our lives. To say we love you and that we are so grateful to you would be giving you only a tiny indication of some of the deepest feelings our hearts will ever know. You provided us with a home that was synonymous with happiness. You gave us direction and answers and wisdom. You gave us stories and sweet remembrances. And nicest of all is that you gave us that irreplaceable thing called "love". And you still - to this very day - give us feelings that are so exceptional. When we think of you, there is nothing we can do but smile." George loved his family, and they felt his deep love.

In the Epistle of II Timothy Paul writes, "The time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved His appearing." (II Timothy 4:6-8). Consider the second part of the verse. Paul reminds us of God's promise -- the Lord has laid up for all those who love him and who keep the faith, a crown of righteousness -- or as the old hymn goes, "the victor's crown of gold."¹

Death is rarely easy for us to face. It is perhaps even more difficult for us to understand. As Christians we attest to the resurrection -- eternal life. But what does that actually mean?
I remember something that happened a very long time ago when a friend’s father died after a long illness. Her son who was then 4, and my then, 3 year old daughter, were good friends. They attended church and nursery school together, and they also went to the same babysitter each day. My friend was telling me about a conversation that the children had with each other in the car one day on the way to the babysitter.
Michael said, "Claire, guess what? My grandpa died."
Claire said, "Is he with God?"
Michael said, "Yea, he's with God." "He used to sit in our living room when he had his skin on. He's still alive, but now he doesn't have skin anymore. Now he lives with God and he's not sick anymore. He's real happy."
You know, for all of my years of theological training at seminary and in the church -- I have not heard one theologian explain resurrection life any better than that four year old little boy. He said it well and correctly. He understands what it is all about.

Jesus reminded those who were being crucified with him that "today they truly would be with him in paradise." And just as he promised those two men, he promises us the very same thing. We can be assured that today George is among the saints in heaven there at the throne of grace, in a paradise too wonderful even for us to imagine. He has indeed received, "the victor's crown of gold."
Now, I bet you can all guess the last words I remember George saying to me. Susie had brought him to Trinity to visit me and Nancy Lain. He gave us big hugs and said good-bye and we hoped to see each other again and he looked at both of us and he said with a big smile, "I’ll see you again soon "if the good Lord’s willing and the crick don’t rise."
Thanks be to God for the gift that George Sabin was to each one of us and to this world.