Yesterday, a very dear to my heart man passed away. While I had not seen him in years this man helped to shape my childhood and his daughter was one of my best friend and still is.
Paul was the type of man who carried himself with enormous faith in God and the blessings that would come from that faith. He along with his wife Carol were and are very active in their Church. Mr. Olson was one of my best friends fathers and treated me as if I was his own. I don’t recall the man ever waiving in faith.
His daughter Paula and I became friends through Meg Olson when we were all in grade school. We all attend Pioneer Girls through the church. We all had the same last name but were not related in any way other than a strong friendship that has been rekindled over the years. We attend Camp Cherith a christian summer camp. Paul was the resident handy man often for the Camp. The Camp itself is a beautiful place to relax and let go to God in all his joy. Paula, Meg and I were known as the three Musketeers as we always hung around each other and we all had the same last name. We always bunked in the same tent and later cabin together. I stopped going to the Camp sometime around sixteen or seventeen and we lost touch for awhile.
We would get together for events like the birth of my daughter and things. Prior to moving to another state I had been trying to locate both the girls for years and finally found Paula on Face book. Who says that Face book is bad, how can it be when it helped me find two of my best friends. I was to learn of Paul’s illness and Meg’s fathers illness as well. Both men who were instrumental in my walk with God and who were and are shining examples of faith. My own father past in December of 1996 and the void is still prominent, though I know he is with God.
Paul was a joke teller and he never let you out of a room without getting in an Ole and Lena joke. Pastors have been known to tell Paul’s ole and lena jokes from the pulpit. Paul was a leader by example and shaped my life though it is not until now that I realize all those rides to church, visiting the Olson’s at their home and the evidence of his passion for God and Camp Cherith do I see just how much he truly touched my life.
You don’t realize how much a person touches your life until they are no longer with us. You miss the laughter, you miss the smiles, you miss the voice of reason and the voice of discipline. You look back and say hey God I want that back and that’s when it hits you.
It’s your turn to lead by example. It’s your turn. When God calls you on your original cell phone just what do you think he will say? I know what he said to Paul yesterday. Son your work on earth is through come take my hand and rest with me because of your love for the father and the son.
I was blessed to have known Paul Olson and I am blessed in knowing he has continued to lead by example with his courage through out his illness and his grace in passing.
While my walk with God has wavered over the years I know that my path crossed Paul’s life and he mine if not for the sole reason to remind me that God is always present.
So Paul when you talk with God and you meet up with my father Al, tell them… will you already know don’t you.
