June 24

The Rainbow -- Promises Kept

Today, I attended a memorial service for a High School Classmate of mine who recently passed away. (He was only 35)

As we were driving back to Asheville to get the kids, this rainbow was in front of us most of the way. I wanted my picture today (the rainbow) to be a *photographic memorial* to him, but the picture isn't exactly earthshattering quality, now is it?

Nope.

BUT -- I have always loved rainbows. In Genesis, there is an account of a worldwide flood. At the end, the rainbow is God's reminder to Noah that it will never happen that way again. So, when I see a rainbow, I am reminded that God keeps His promises, even when things aren't going the way I want them to.

As we saw the rainbow, Ray Boltz's song "The Anchor Holds" was playing.

The Anchor Holds (recorded by Ray Boltz)

i have journeyed
through the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet his eyes were watching me

CHORUS
the anchor holds
though the ship is battered
the anchor holds
though the sails are torn
i have fallen on my knees
as i faced the raging seas
the anchor holds
in spite of the storm

i've had visions
i've had dreams
i've even held them in my hand
but i never knew
they would slip right through
like they were only grains of sand

CHORUS

i have been young
but i am older now
and there has been beauty these eyes have seen
but it was in the night
through the storms of my life
ohh thats where God proved his love to me

So, what does the memorial service, the rainbow, and Ray Boltz have in common. Absolutely nothing, but God used them today to show me something.

Perhaps I should start at the beginning. (This could get long, so go get your popcorn).

I went to school with Erik Steffen from 7th grade until we graduated in 1989. We were friends. That is I knew him, and he knew me. We didn't run in the same circles, but there was always a mutual respect between us. I remember him always being rather quiet, but ready to have a good joke, probably a bit more mature than the rest of us, even though his eyes were ALWAYS laughing. He wasn't perfect, I'm sure, but if I had to come up with one word to describe him, it would have to be dignity. and fun. (okay, that's two, but so be it).

After graduation, our lives went completely different routes. I ran into him and another friend several years later, and found out that he was a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ. Whoa. That totally blew my mind. Thrilled my heart (I was/am a Christian), but blew my mind. After that, different directions again.

Then, my little sister started hanging around with this guy named Martin. Martin Steffen, Erik's younger brother. So, even though we didn't talk, see, or even acknowledge each other (he was in Indy, me in NC) there was a commonality now.


Around Christmas 2004, Erik went to the hospital with intense headaches. Brain cancer. They operated, wasn't sure of the prognosis, and he was given a year or so. According to him, his goal was to live 40 in that one.

About a year later, he started having some more trouble. According to my little sister, they found cancer cells in his spinal fluid. Not good. Time progressed, so did his cancer. On June 3, 2006, Erik went to live with his Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is always strange when someone you have known since childhood dies. Like all of a sudden, history is different, because when you look through the yearbooks, that picture of the deceased is almost gone. If we had known in 1989 that Anthony, Erik, Chris, and Drew (all classmates from my class or the year after that have died in the past 3 years) wouldn't see 40, what would we have said differently? What would we have written in their yearbooks?

So, Erik is gone. In high school, he was voted MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED. I daresay that was one superlative we nailed perfectly. He did succeed. He was so smart, savvy, and personable, I honestly think he could have attained any degree or measurement of success that he strove for. But, he had one goal. To love people for Jesus Christ. In just minutes of talking to his wife, Kelly, his family, or those who served with him, it was undeniable. His life was cut short, but reading memorials to him, his influence lives on.

His anchor held, even in the throes of brain cancer. His anchor held, even when all hope was gone and the storms battle and raged around him. His anchor is still holding. For his wife, his sons, his family, his friends.

God promises to never leave us or forsake us. God keeps his promises.


Read the last few months of his journey, and the testimony to his life at www.erikandkelly.ministryhome.org