I had called him Dr. Lowery because reputation had preceded him, and I recognized him as worthy of respect. But I came to know that there was much more to Bob than a reputation. His reputation - as honorable, well-earned, and far reaching as it was - was barely more than a caricature of who he was.
His character and compassion have touched the pages of this blog previously. Anonymously. Now, however, I'll tell you all that one of the most encouraging things anyone has ever done for me was when Bob walked up to me in McDonald's one night and handed me $20 and said, "Dinner's on me." You see, my mom was in the hospital a hundred miles away, and I had spent several days at her side. I was drained and needed some encouragement. After we got our food, I went over and sat with him and Marilyn for a couple minutes and told him how meaningful that simple act was. He didn't know about my day, nor I his. He had just come from a colleague's office where they mourned the news of another friend's cancer. He was simply being generous - and ultimately living out the Golden Rule.
At first I was a bit intimidated by his presence in the congregation I came to serve. That was pointless and silly on my behalf, because, ultimately, he was a constant encouragement to me in my ministry.
The last conversation I had with him was about music. If you knew him, that won't surprise you. He wanted to see Mumford and Sons. He said, "If you hear of them coming to Chicago, St. Louis, or Indy, let me know - I'd like to go."
I know that God is sovereign over our passing from this phase of life, but I'll still wish I'd known Bob better and longer. I learned of his death tonight at rehearsal. We stopped and prayed. We still had to go through "I Will Rise" and "Christ is Risen" - both full of the truth that Bob was so passionate about.
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death.
Come awake, come awake - come and rise up from the grave.
Christ is risen from the dead. We are one with Him again.
Come awake, come awake - come and rise up from the grave.
Amen.
The peace of Christ be upon the Lowery, Mollet and Tanner families.
