Jim

People don't often realize how much someone can mean to a person even if he is not related to the deceased's family. I wrote this in response to Jim's passing last month as I had no part in his service.

The big drawback with having friends is that sooner or later, you will lose them. Jim Wilcut passed away last month. He was a friend.

We were also born on the same day, July 18th. Even though we were born decades, continents and ethnicities apart, he always referred to me as his brother. I still find that somehow endearing, if somewhat annoying.

For Jim was an annoying person. He had a masterful way of going off on tangents, especially when he talked about how amusement parks could deepen your faith. I avoid annoying people any time I can, but I always enjoyed talking with Jim, because he was an extremely likeable person.

You can do well in life if you work hard and people like you. That was Jim, a painting contractor who provided for his lovely wife Marcia and four boys. I’m sure he got a lot of business because they knew he was friendly and because he got along with everyone. And he was smart! I was the head of the stewardship one year when Jim volunteered to paint the church offices. Imagine the committee’s surprise when we saw a bill for the paint. After some discussion I moved to pay it. Cost of goods sold, I said at the time. The goods wasn’t the paint in this instance, it was the labor Jim provided for free!

Like Jim, my life is defined by who I am rather than what I do. I thanked Jim for that when I first found out about the cancer last summer. I was about to cry when he did something I did not expect: he kissed me on the cheek and assured me it would be okay. Jim passed away on his terms, forgoing treatments that could have extended his life but diminished its quality. As a Christian, I thank God that he is in a better place!