The flowers came with the plot.
There was a death in the family yesterday. No condolences, however, will be accepted.
Here lies comfortable, ease-loving John. He was a small man, full of fear, who only stepped out when it was safe.
He was a small man and shrinking. His favorite way to deal with anything uncomfortable was to defer. Defer it to someone else or some other time. In fact, they say the cause of death was avoidance. He avoided so much that it finally fell over on top of him and killed him.
He never did anything he didn’t want to do. For that reason he will not be missed.
He was buried in a plot next to his father who spent the last few years of his controlled, ordered life in a wheelchair, staring. John was starting to stare, too, until he found there was nothing there to look at. His surviving relatives are ambivalent.
There will be no services because no one but his former self is sad to see him go, and no one will mourn his passing. No one cares, because he didn’t care. He was a small man with small expectations and limited decisions.
He is survived by his born again self who is a little sad to see him go, but, at the same time, anticipating being alive again, though understandably apprehensive even in light of resurrection power. It will be hard it first because it is all new.
It is said, however, that his wife is dancing on his grave.
John Fischer The Catch 
This is the first time since i read the catch that i didn’t like it at all. I lost my father and I don`t like it when death is used as an analogy o metaphor even if its purpose is to share worthy knowledge or teachings. Or maybe I was in a particularly sensitive mood. This is not a complain though I’m just sharing my feelings about it. Reading The catch is like being part of a family to me and I’m thankful for that. Blessings.
Ana,
Thanks for writing. I am instructed by your comments. I think, at least for men and their fathers, there are things they admire and things they want to change. We are all a product of our genes and our upbringing, and there are things I saw in my father that I see in myself that are things I want to change, but not out of disrespect and I need to be careful about that. Thanks for showing me this. Glad you are a part of the Catch.
This Catch” is surely a time warp. A time long long ago. I have to think, if this is a refference to the John Fischer I am gratefully well read, there is clear testimony that he is not self centered.
John, I get it. At 61, all I can say is…am there, doin’ that. Your honesty is a poke in my spiritual side to read Ecclesiastes for a backstretch reality check. It’s the book I avoid most in the Bible simply because it deals so plainly with death and life and vanity. I’ve found some great song hooks there, but I try not to stay too long. Maybe it’s time for a longer visit. Good post.
This is both profound and hilarious! Assuming you are “John”, did you kill him or did you allow God to do the job? How did He reveal this side of “John”?
I’m happy to hear that John is survived by his born again self.
No condolences sent.
Maybe to better understand my post about today’s Catch plz consider reading some of the very good books of Dr. Robert Rohm. Who teaches this amazing simply way to understand your own dominant personality types (PT) and how to relate the other different PTs called the DISC Method, or find our own dominant style, or type. Because Pastor John’s PT and writing style has taught me soooo much and I’ve grown in the Lord because of them! Therefore, I am kind of sad about of learning this: “Gone, and hopefully, forgotten” because I perceive through my limited knowledge of Dr. Rohm’s DISC method that my good friend, Pastor John is a high C with parts of a S, personality type, which means some of, or a few of the words that he may relate to are: Cautious, Calculating, Competent, Conscience, Contemplative and Careful. So to see a change or dealth is some what seen as neither warranted, nor desired and Marti’s PT, which is a lot closer to mine of a high D, with some I mixed in, which does fully explain this statement: Of her, Marti: “It is said, however, that his wife is dancing on his grave.”
PS Ana Corleto I am so sorry to learn about your father’s passing away and i’ll whisper prayers for you and your family…
I love this post and found it to be hilarious. I can picture Marti dancing on John’s grave, hehehehe. I cannot, however, picture John to be the man he claimed to be before being born again but we all know our own warts best, do we not? Still, quite funny and I am happy to hear John will still be with us and though I am not offering condolences, our beloved John will always be in our hearts (giggle).
The hard part is that its not a one time thing – we have to “die to self” every day.
Ouch! Hit close to home…and I loved the part about Marti dancing on your grave! 🙂
You know I meant that metaphorically (is that the correct word?)
This post left me laughing at the life of this man who was not missed because he did absolutely nothing. I assume his wife was joyfully and at the same time angrily dancing on his grave. What this communicated to me was “that faith without works is DEAD”. This was me most of my life.
Because of fear of failure I never made a decision, apathy ruled my life, this progressed to total paralysis in the area of making a decision to do anything. This frustrated people around me and of course they felt sorry for me. This became so entrenched that if I had spent a whole evening doing nothing but watch tv and vowing to do all in a non existing tomorrow, my words would be, “Well I successfully wasted another evening”. The sad part was that I was perversely proud of that statement.
Since I left that stronghold behind due to God’s threatening to take my wife and children and house away from me at age 38 to 41, my life has improved. God said to me if you don’t work you don’t eat. Since then it seems to me that this is and was total unbelief. Faith in God is spelled RISK. I never risked anything. I buried my talent in the ground.
The world is filled with people who never assume the assignment God gave them in Genesis 1:28. God needs kingdom workers not couch potatoes. Thank you John for reminding me that faith without works is dead. I actually saw my wife dancing on my grave. Thankfully I was still alive and can be someone who is remembered for leaving a legacy of faith rather than being forgotten in my lifetime. If this was not your intent, know that this was a good reminder for me at a time when I was struggling and needed to remember where God had brought me from.
It is my belief that nothing is impossible with God. I now consult Him on all decisions and have been making decisions that are unpopular and off the wall but they all prove God sees the big picture and I don’t. It is a pleasure to take risks and be an active participant in making His Kingdom come. Praise the Lord, he upended the couch so this potato had to get off, so his wife would not dance on his grave but instead stand in front of the stone with a tear in her eye and missing the man who loved her and loved life as God intended.
Peter wanted to tell you, your comments blessed me and thx 4 them… 🙂
Way to go, Peter (I mean, super Peter!).
Reminds me of the comment once made about another fellow…”He died at 50 and they buried him at 65.”