It Only Takes A Second (#356)

A couple of weeks ago, I hit the road with the Mark Trammell Trio. Mark's been a close friend of mine since, well, back then. Anyway, every now and then, if his group and I are working many of the same dates, I'll hitch a ride on his bus. On this particular occasion, Mark's driver, Walter, was recovering at home from some minor health issues and I wound up being a surrogate bus driver.

The first date of this particular trip was in New Castle, Indiana. If you have never realized just how close we are standing to eternity, this might just drive it home for you.

In the audience that evening was an elderly couple, both of whom relied on oxygen tanks to help them through the day. And, as best as we can piece it together, this couple had enjoyed Gospel music for quite some time and until their health slowed them down, they attended many events.

In the weeks leading up to this particular evening, the man had really been facing some tough health battles. But as the week of the trio's appearance in Indiana opened, he was feeling better and by Thursday, both he and his wife were wanting to get out of the house and hear Gospel music.

I remember seeing them truly enjoy the concert and watching them talk to the members of the group after the program was over. I also faintly remember seeing them walk out the door.

I was helping the guys pack things up when someone came running in the building, saying that someone had fallen in the parking lot. Mark and Steve Hurst ran out of the building and found a crowd standing around that same man I just wrote about. Long story short, he and his wife had walked to their car, he reached for the car door handle...and stepped into eternity.

Those there who knew the man say that they have no doubt that he is enjoying the splendors of Heaven. So this story does have a happy ending.

But, if for some reason, you're reading this and you don't know the Jesus that the Mark Trammell Trio and all the other groups sing about, just think for a moment about how quickly your earthly life can come to an end.

It only takes a second.