Rev J. Roland Underwood

In God's word we are reminded that life is like a blade of grass.  It is here today, shooting up greeting the world with enthusiasm.  It reaches as high as it can barring the cutters blade or the summers drought.  Then altogether too soon it begins too lose its color and fades,  and as winter comes on it withers and dies.  It seems to be then that we realize how short the season really was.

I bring this up because an old friend went to be with the Lord last week.  When we first met I was a boy of twelve and he and his wife were the pastors of a church I had been invited to visit.  Soon he became the big brother that I never had.  Encouraging me, discipling me, mentoring me, teaching me how to be a man of God.  He stood behind me when I was right and with me when I was wrong.  When Debra and I got married he was my best man, and when I began my pastoral career he often would come to where I was and would preach revivals.

As life gets so busy, we  all sometimes lose touch with people like him.  The last couple of years we had reunited our friendship via the telephone, and often he would call me or I him.   I regret that we didn't have the chance to sit at the table together again, or take one of our sightseeing trips to look at churches.  Sometimes we let things like the business of life or  350 miles hinder us from doing things that we will wish we had done later on.   At any rate I will not see my friend again this side of Heaven.  

Right now I am doing an inventory of other people who have been significant in my life and intend to renew some old acquaintances before it is too late.  I would like to encourage you to do the same.  A phone call, a letter, an email or even a visit if possible will be a treasure if they depart this world. 

Roland, in your passing, you taught me still one more rich lesson.