Fr. Dale Matson
I have
known my close friend Phillip for over 50 years. He is one of the most gifted
individuals I have ever met both physically and intellectually. His doctorate
is in Geology and his profession was the analysis of rocks for Chevron.
However, he could have been successful at anything he put his hand to. While he
has been a scientist evaluating the physical world, he has done so with the eyes
and ears of an artist. I am honored that someone like Phil would be and remain
a lifelong friend to someone such as me who lacked Phil’s native aptitudes.
Phil has always had a handicap. He has not needed God. Things have been easy
for him; too easy. He has never had to rely on anyone else. Age and a nearly
fatal motorcycle accident have provided an evolving but uncharacteristic humility
and a willingness to listen more carefully. Like Jacob, he now walks with a
limp.
We have shared similar personal struggles and
earlier lives which included mutual close friends, drunkenness, addiction to
cigarettes and failed marriages. Like lifelong friends, we can share the
minutia of the day at great length over the phone.
When Phil retired,
he moved to a rural setting and enjoys the time he spends on his tractor and in
his shop. He is also married a Roman Catholic woman who is active in her church
and community on behalf of her church. She walks the walk and this has had an
effect on Phil. She has not just his love but his respect. Phil listens to and
learns from those he respects. He has no patience for those he does not respect.
Our
friendship has survived two crises. When I came back to Christ and witnessed to
him about my need for Christ, I think Phil was disappointed in me. I’m sure he
thought it was a weakness and a delusion. Unbelief had been a long shared mutual
perspective. Being a Christian created a distance for a time. Being a Christian
changes relationships and ended another close friendship. The second crisis was
when I quitting drinking. I sent him a letter expressing my concern for his drinking.
I struggled with sending the letter but finally mailed it. There was a long
period with no response. I was concerned that perhaps I had been too
confrontive about it. As it turned out, he finally did respond and said he
would not allow my letter to threaten a lifelong friendship.
In a recent
conversation, I told Phil about a vision of Christ I had experienced at the end
of the Eucharist. He remembered and recounted another vision that I had told
him about. I said I would take some time to sort this out. He offered to write
out some of his questions for me and I have them in hand. I will include them
in my next posting.
The point
of this story is to offer a context for my response and a hope to those of you who have a burden on your heart
that God has placed there for an individual in your life. I believe that God
has been involved in preparing Phil’s heart for Christ his whole life. I also
believe that Phil is correctly convinced that his lifelong friend has not been
diminished by his relationship to Christ but has transcended both a miserable
and an ordinary life because of
Christ. Like any good scientist, he has the longitudinal evidence for this.
“I can do all things through Christ
Who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
1 comment:
Phil's wife Susan called me this morning to say that Phil had suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack. Thank You Lord for his friendship and may You comfort all off us who knew him. RIP Phil.
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