The Epiphany of the Lord – and a different kind of epiphany.

Huron County started off the year with a tremendous loss.

Lowell McDonald passed away on Friday, January 1st.

I can’t adequately describe what Lowell was to our community. Pretty much every resident of our area has their own “Lowell Story” to share. While I have my own memories of Lowell, the story that I kept thinking of today was actually my parents’ story.

Not too long ago my parents were on their way to Bad Axe and drove by Lowell and Beth’s house. My Dad passed the remark to my Mom that he hoped one day Lowell would be outside and they could stop for a visit. It just so happened that day they noticed his garage door was open. They drove past the house a little bit when my Dad decided there was no time like the present to stop by. They went back, and they found Lowell outside. They pulled in the driveway and proceeded to have the nicest visit. Before they left he made sure to tell them to stop by anytime for a cup of coffee. After their visit was done and they were driving away, Mom and Dad both said how happy they were that the timing worked out.

About a week or so later – Lowell had passed away.

That story was all I could think about today during mass. So often I feel the Lord will put something on my heart and I dismiss it. I’ll think it’s silly….or I’ll have time to do it later……or someone else will do that…….the excuses go on and on. Today I asked the Lord to open my ears and my heart to those ‘nudges of the soul’ as He sends them to me. There’s not a doubt in my mind it was the Lord that nudged my Dad to turn his truck around that afternoon. As we begin the new year, let’s all open our ears and hearts to those ‘nudges of the soul.’

I called my parents after church today, and my Mom shared with me a passage that was in their bulletin this Sunday. She said it reminded her of Lowell and read it to me over the phone.

“A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good he does in this world to his fellow man. When he dies people will say, ‘What property has he left behind him?’ But the angels will ask, ‘What good deeds has he sent before him?’”

See you back here next Sunday – and thank you, Lowell, for everything you have done for this community. Your generosity will never be forgotten – in this world or the next.