The school year is coming to an end.  The seniors had their last day of class today.  I am proud of the class of 2012.  They are finishing well.  However, there is poignancy in the business of wrapping up loose ends and doing things for the last time as a high school student.  Although they look ahead to college and career, my students also are aware that life will never be the same.  Their circle of friends will inevitably change.  Their responsibilities will increase. They will face many challenges.  Independence brings losses as well as gains.

I, too, have been forced to deal with change as Ted has been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  At this point the tumor has been removed and he is facing chemotherapy.  We are hopeful for a cure, but we have to be realistic.  In many ways, being confronted with the inevitability of the end of life—which faces all of us, whether we are forced by the presence of cancer to think of it or not—has brought Ted and me incredibe blessing.   For one thing, we have become increasingly aware that the two of us have become truly one over the almost forty years of our marriage.  And secondly, we have been overwhelmed with the kindness, prayers, and help of friends, co-workers, and students during this difficult time.  Several who have gone through similar situations have given us advice. My brother, who lost his wife to cancer over 11 years ago, told me, “Accept help sooner than later.”  He also encouraged us to wrap up loose ends, especially relational and financial.  A friend who lost her sister to cancer told me to “look for the joy!” and is praying that we will find it daily.

The care of my students has been especially touching.  When I told my English class about my husband’s upcoming surgery, one of the boys asked if I would like them to pray for me and proceded to do so.  Several 9^th grade girls are particularly concerned, perhaps because they have faced the death of loved ones themselves, and often ask me how my husband is doing. I have received numerous notes, including one from a girl who is not even in my class this year.  These notes hold depths of wisdom beyond their writers’ chronological ages, encouragement from God’s Word, and assurance of their prayers for us.  How good it is to be part of a Christian community!

It is beneficial to live as though we will die tomorrow while at the same time we live as though we will live forever.  No matter what our stage of life, we should accept—and give—help sooner rather than later.  It is always important to take care of our relationships, keeping short accounts when we offend or are offended.  And we should never forget to look for the joy.  In doing so we will glorify God and will enjoy Him forever.  For ultimately, there really is no end of life for us as Christians.

Professionally, Dave Kamauf was a senior financial analyst at Memorial Hospital.  But I knew Dave as a friend and a teacher.  My son was his student in his high school boys’ Sunday School class.  Later, Dave became the adult Sunday School teacher and my husband and I sat under his instruction.  A devoted student of the Bible, Dave made his lessons practical.  I can see him now with the Wall Street Journal in his hand, eager to read an article related to our lesson.  Dave also taught night classes at Allegany College and at the federal prison for several years.

Dave’s passion for education expanded beyond his own teaching efforts.  A firm believer in Christian education, he put his four girls through Calvary Christian Academy and served for thirty years on the CCA school board.  Dave was a man of integrity who was able to keep confidences.  Even his wife never knew what issues were discussed at those long, late night board meetings.  She does know, however, that our previous administrator, Floyd Rinehart, considered Dave a wise mentor, both in their similar jobs in the finance departments of Memorial and Sacred Heart hospitals, and also as they worked together guiding CCA.

Dave lived life intensely.  He cared deeply about the things that were important to him—his Lord, his family, his teaching, his friends, his job.  When he became ill several years ago, he fought hard to live and to live well.  In spite of medical treatments that left him weak, he continued teaching Sunday School.  Sick as he was when he returned from Texas nine days before he died, he told his pastor, “Maybe I can teach three more lessons.”  Like the apostle Paul, he lived out the paradox “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  Like Paul, he wanted to see people come to know his Savior.

That desire of Dave’s heart was granted when his pastor used Dave’s notebook and taught Dave’s final Sunday School class to those of us who attended his funeral.  Three people responded to the pastor’s invitation for prayer as they considered accepting Christ as their Savior.