Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in
a plain path
(Psalm 27:11).
Today marks one week
of putting Stanley’s remains into the ground (16th October) and it
is fitting for me to give an accolade. I simply want to thank the Lord God
Almighty for the season he gave me to know and camp with Stanley and remember him
as a dear brother and friend in this short tribute. This is because his passing
has left an indelible memory and a challenge: to hold fast to the Lord Jesus in
full obedience! Brethren and friends, we may not fully know and understand the
Lord’s way but we should humbly pray that He may teach us that way and help us
to live for him. I knew Stanley for about nine years but we only related closely
from somewhere 2004 when I joined him to share accommodation. That time we were
both courting our beloveds (he courted Beatrice, and I, Mercy) and had several
things in common. It is interesting that our weddings were about a month apart,
theirs in October and ours in November 2005. We thus shared and collected some
wedding songs together.
I do not claim to
have known him very well but of a fact I can say that he was not only accommodating
in every conceivable way but also a brother’s keeper, a godly and committed Christian
who did not live for this world. He lived a simple, happy and joyful life.
Stanley and I did not just eat together, sleep on the same bed and talk about
social and economic issues that affected us; we sharpened each other spiritually
as reformed evangelicals, challenged ourselves to live relevantly and do the
best with what we have. We knew it is not easy and right to belong to big and
growing Reformed Baptist Churches in the city and just be on the membership list
– Lusaka Baptist and Kabwata Baptist have various and common challenges.
Stan loved reading
and bought Christian books, so did I and we encouraged each other to have a library
of mixed sound literature. I remember no sooner did I marry than I bought a
bookshelf and filled it! We constantly checked on and prayed for each other as
we acknowledge that we had a rough road to travel and our burdens were made lighter.
And we would joke and laugh and I hope we did not disturb or offend our
neighbours. For Stan, the Lord Jesus shone “through the cloud and rain, through
sorrow, toil and pain.” I envied some things about Stanley while he lived and I
have envied his going ahead of me to heaven!
To all those who
indeed do not have a living and loving relationship with our Lord and Saviour
Jesus yet, I recommend Him and say with the prophet Zechariah, “See your King comes to you,
righteous and having salvation”. Receive Him!
