Dear Caldwell,
The phrase above comes from the prophet Isaiah (53.3) and has always stuck with me. Surely, it describes our shared experience as a faith community in this mean year. We are, indeed, too acquainted with grief.
By now you may have heard that our friend, elder, leader, champion and chief peace-passing big hugger Johnny Johnson died early this morning after a peaceful night of sleep and no struggle. He had been in the hospital for several days. Physically, he died of heart failure … but we know Johnny’s heart really never failed anyone he knew and considered a friend.
This is yet one more unspeakable loss. We will need to take time to sort out our grief for each of the giant lights of ours that have gone out this year. Each one of those loved ones – Johnny, Richard Harrison, Wilma and Leroy – deserves that, as well as other friends and family members of our members. Stay tuned for opportunities in the near future to deal together with this compounded grief.
For Johnny, an online service of Witness to the Resurrection is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8 at 2 p.m. on our Youtube Channel. A private graveside service will be held that morning.
Johnny came to Caldwell more than a decade ago after a period in the spiritual wilderness in disappointment and estrangement over how churches and organized religion failed the LGBTQ community and its allies in the AIDS crisis.
At Caldwell, he found an abundant and ready expression of God’s inclusive love. His energy and wisdom propelled him to leadership and he reflected God’s love back out to all who entered. Countless friends, many of whom became members, came on a Sunday morning with the greeting, “I am a friend of Johnny Johnson.”
Johnny led here in multiple roles – as an elder, member of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee, Co-chair of the Sharing the Promise of Home Campaign to help build Easter’s House, annual Pride Parade captain and torchbearer. His Easter bonnets became legend as did his hearty laugh, loving smile and bottomless caring and generosity.
New Testament theologians have interpreted Isaiah’s phrase about a person of suffering and “acquainted with grief” as pointing to Christ, who suffered, knew suffering of others and who takes on all our suffering. In Christ, God came into the world to walk, feel, have fun, make friends, serve others, love generously and know mourning. I have little doubt that God’s heart breaks over the fact that Johnny’s heart could no longer fuel his big life. God sent Johnny to be a light to others, one that burned brightly for a time. In Christ, God knows our compounded grief and suffering. God weeps with us. In Christ, God calls us to give him our burdens.
And … our merciful God has welcomed Johnny home. Though he lost faith in the church for a time, Johnny’s faith in God never waivered. Each of you helped create the place that came to define and save him in so many ways. If you’d like to hear his silky drawl one more time, click here to hear his recent stewardship message.
Now he rests in the warm embrace of the God he never doubted, surrounded by his loved ones.
I’m told that Johnny could sing well, but his busy civic and social life made practicing with the choir difficult. Still, can you imagine him lifting his voice with Richard H., Wilma and Leroy? How does that soaring Christmas carol go?
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; — Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, Glory in the highest; Oh, come, let us adore him; Oh, come, let us adore him; Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
Soon enough, it will be time to sing those joyous verses, soon enough. First, we weep and mourn.
But after our deep, deep grieving there is joy in the morning … and that’s what Johnny would want.
Yours in Christ,
John