WATCHWORD:
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:33-37
Meditation:
Tribute to Mac
Dr. Mac McKinley, Dentist and a beautiful force within our community, departed on an adventure we all must take when he joined our Lord and Savior less than a week ago. His absence is felt keenly by family members and many of us who have gone through the loss of a loved one and so we can relate to the void that exists right here among us.
It made me think of God’s love for us and how that love touches us in ways we don’t always understand and sometimes it’s hard and harsh and yet it is a blessing to the one who finds himself joyful in the presence of the Lord.
Jesus knew the heart of the Father and Jesus knew that the person we have been lasts forever. I believe that. These bodies won’t last (Lord knows!), but our spirit remains, right here among us. The fact is that God’s love never dies.
It is hard to feel thankful in the presence of our sadness, and yet we do. We have been blessed by the presence of Mac. Maybe it was his sense of humor, or his insightfulness when he reflected on our own moods. His daughter has written about the comfort of his presence beside her, arm around her in a hug. I think we could all say something like that because Mac’s life had such a loving effect on those who truly knew him. We know his spirit lives on, we can feel it!
The truth is Mac was a giant in a quiet, strong way and anyone who knew him, young or old, has a sense of that presence within them. If you consider the love of God, then you capture the essence of Mac. Mac was a ‘Like-wiser‘ Read any of his writings and you catch a glimpse of him.
On a personal note, Mac and I have stories untold. On occasion we shared each other’s writings, sometimes fiction, sometimes personal. We also shared some stories that shouldn’t be told in polite company. I remember a trip we took to Ohio, a trip that neither one of us wanted to make. But we went, resisted all the way, but, by the end of the weekend, we were both blessed with a new and permanent relationship with our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 30 we read: “Sadness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. From my own experience, I know that can be hard to understand, but I can attest to the truth that joy will indeed come. Mac has just simply stepped into another room, waiting for you and me, with that smile and a hug. He was and is a blessing to us. Thank you, Lord.
From the Poet Laureate, Mac McKinley:
She Sure Was a Grandma Good
One of the things I remember from long year’s afore
there never was a lock on Grandma’s door.
It was always open to one and all.
Most of the time you could find her a sitting and rockin,
awaiting the likes of you or me to call
and if we did,
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Now the smells that came emitting from her kitchen would almost be a sin,
if it weren’t for all the loving the cookin’ had within.
Beef and noodles, mashed taters, fresh green beans and more.
When you finished and you stood,
your tummy would cast a
shadow on the kitchen floor.
Then she would stand and open the oven door.
Out would come pourin’ cookies, cakes and pies galore.
Then you would find yourself a sayin,
huh I think I’ll sit down and have some more.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
People would save for her old clothes rags and such.
You know things you and I would consider muss and fluff.
She would take then and rip them into strips
and sew them end to end.
Then braid them into rugs cause she knew
when she gave you one you would give her great big hugs.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Then one day, that old woman did up and die.
There wasn’t anyone with a dry eye.
She didn’t leave much to divide.
Except all the love that no one could hide.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Around her grave site we stood
hands clasping hands until the preacher man said.
Dear Lord God, we give you thanks for the life this woman lived.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
He was a Grandpa Good.
NOTE:
Celebration of Mac’s Life will be on Saturday, August 16, 2025, 1:00 PM, Zion Lutheran Church, North Manchester, IN. Military honors will be rendered at 2:15 PM, immediately following the service and then all are invited to a reception 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at The Firehouse, 108 W Main Street, North Manchester, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Indiana Parkinson Foundation in Mac’s memory at https://www.indianaparkinson.org/donate-to-ipf/
Prayer:
May the peace of God surround each one of us who are reminded of those who are no longer with us. May we translate that peace to the ebb and flow of our lives, and follow our master who told us to Go and do likewise. Amen.
