The ‘Godwink’ that led to a touching farewell
From time to time I have shared Godwinks in this column. Godwinks, a term coined by my friend Squire Rushnell, are those seeming coincidences that (upon reflection) have a divine origin. Earlier this year, God winked at me with both eyes.
This double-wink began with my 94-year-old father-in-law’s stroke while sitting at his computer working on his latest book. Sadly, Hugh died 10 days later in Southern California.
Within a couple weeks my wife and I flew from Seattle to her folks’ home for the memorial service. In the days that followed, I began the arduous process of clearing out Hugh’s office. As the author of 35 books, my father-in-law left a large library and hundreds of files neatly arranged in several cabinets that surrounded his desk.
While exploring one file, I made an unexpected discovery. There was an old Reader’s Digest article by Michael Medved, film critic and talk show host, who lives near me. Amazingly, when my father-in-law read the article in 1989 and then filed it, he had no idea the author would become a good friend when our family moved from the Chicago area to Seattle years later.
I took a screenshot of the article and texted it to Michael and his wife, Diane. When the Medveds responded that they’d love to have the article for their files, I tucked it in my backpack for safe keeping. I determined I would drop it off after Wendy and I returned home.
As it turned out, life got crazy after getting back to Seattle and I forgot all about it. The day before we were to leave for a two-week vacation in Europe, I came across the article while going through my backpack. I knew what I needed to do. And so before finishing packing for our trip, I stopped what I was doing and drove to the Medved’s home.
On the way to make good on my overdue promised delivery, I passed the subdivision where my friends Walt and his wife Thelma live. Out of the blue, it occurred to me that I had not had contact with them for a couple of months even though I knew Walt was battling esophageal cancer.
After dropping off the article at the Medved’s home, I texted Walt and his wife from my car and asked for an update on Walt’s health. I was not prepared for what I would learn.
Thelma immediately wrote back and informed me that Walt had been unexpectedly hospitalized the day before and was not doing well. It sounded serious. Thelma asked if I would be able to come and visit. I told her that my only window of time was that very evening because we were leaving the next day for two weeks.
Within a couple hours I was at Walt’s bedside reflecting with him and Thelma on our 20-year friendship. Although weak and struggling to speak, Walt shared with me highlights of his faith journey. He expressed confidence in whatever lay ahead. We prayed together.
Before I left his room, I handed Walt a little wooden holding cross to remind him of God’s continual presence and that which assures us of eternal life when we reach the end of our earthly journey. It was holy moment that almost didn’t happen.
As Wendy and I left the next day for our European river cruise, I sensed I would not see Walt again this side of Heaven. Indeed, I got a text from Thelma two days later at my hotel in Switzerland that Walt had passed away. My response was bittersweet. I was sad but also grateful for the chance to have that one final visit.
And to think, it all began with the unexpected death of my wife’s father that led to a series of events that resulted in my being able to connect with my friend Walt just before he died.
Upon reflection, that opportunity to say goodbye to Walt never would have occurred if I had not randomly discovered that 35-year-old article by my friend Michael and then decided to take the article to the Medved home just before leaving on vacation.
God not only winked at me once. He winked twice! And I’m so very grateful.
• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes about faith and family.