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Fruitful Labor!

June 15, 2022
By Dan Bragg

I just got the call from the doctor’s nurse, “Be here at 6:15 in the morning, do not eat from evening on, dress casual, bring a walker, make sure someone is with you, and oh yes, do you have a Living Will?”

I am having a hip replacement surgery on June 14 at 6 am, actually two (another one later in the summer), if I survive!!

I stammer back, “I thought this was easy-peasy surgery, you know, walk in with pain in the morning and walk out free of pain in the evening, that is what the doctor said…right?”

Little laugh, “you never know, just make sure your will is up to date and bring it in!”

So, is it possible, maybe, I could go to sleep with anesthesia, and never wake up? Wow!!

Paul talked about being here on earth and getting work done, or dying, and the next thing you know walking with the Lord! My oldest son who is 32 years old had a wonderful near life-time friend, who stood up at his computer last month, only to fall back down to the floor dead, a heart attack. No warning, no known problem. I had a first-rate Math teacher at my last school, younger than me, fight off cancer several years ago, VICTORY! She was told last week she has a couple months to live and there is nothing they can do.

My Mom passed away when she was 54 and my sister when she was 37 both from cancer. Cindy had six children the youngest was three. We hear these stories often! At one moment everything is fine and the next thing you know, they are gone.

Interesting, that maybe I am spending my next to last day on earth getting one of our busses to pass the Ohio State Patrol bus certification. I was required to take the bus to Troy, wait around, and get through a lot of red-tap and quite the hassle. So, this is how I am spending my next to last day on earth?

Americans are great at covering up this inevitable issue – we die!

The Seniors who graduated from CCS this past month, the class of 2022, proclaimed their verse to be Ephesian 5:15 “Be careful how you live, not as unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Okay – but let’s not get crazy – surely that does not mean now!?

Philippians 1:22 is the verse where Paul wonders if he is going to die and he seems to be like – if it is, then it is, no biggie…I desire to be with Christ – that is better, but if not, if I stay, then fruitful labor!

So, Mr. Hyde and I have been talking about our summer. There is so much to do! Get the Bus to pass the inspection is small compared to finding a place for near 400 kids!! We have building projects, money to raise, new employees to orient, books to buy, schedules to configure, and on the list goes!

In my mind is the mission of orchestrating a fine Christian school that touches the heart, hand, and mind of students. To support families as they raise their children and help them to provide, an excellent academic experience centered around God’s Word and developing them into disciples! Yes, disciples who figure out how to get it done and be productive, you know, “Fruitful Labor!” But who also know the bigger picture, the eternal perspective, the realization that life moves really fast, and we want to be wise because in our culture today, we are up against a lot of evil!!

I have had a good run! (In fact this 1963 hip model has approximately 60,000 miles on it before being replaced.) I have been so blessed. I am thankful for my wife, my four boys and their wonderful wives

and nine grandchildren. I so enjoy my work. And yes, I really like my truck! But who really knows? Just make sure you have that will, and many other things, in order.

Tomorrow I will be “knocked out” for surgery. If God takes me, okay. But if around mid-morning, I start waking up, see some lights, maybe a nurse, or my wife, then that means only one thing…Fruitful Labor!! Yeah man – let’s go get it done and without pain!!! We have work to do!

And so do you. Do it WISELY!! Invest in the eternal stuff and Make it Count.

Oh, how the mind wonders when you are driving a bus!