Max Bailey - Graduated

Max Bailey - Graduated - November 23, 1999
by Bud Malmsten

Thursday, November 25, 1999

My friend, Max Bailey died this week. I know that sounds harsh. Our culture is so repulsed by the thought that we would rather not think about death at all.

However the Bible hits me in the face with this astounding announcement: "Precious in the eyes of God is the death of His saints." [Psalm 116:15] What kind of talk is that? What could possibly be in the mind of God to call anything so horrible, so separating, so permanent, "precious?"

Does this make you feel uncomfortable? I do not mean to do that. In fact, if you will stay with me here, you may begin to see how God has been misunderstood [intentionally?] by a large portion of our population.

Allow me a few paragraphs that will seem totally off the wall.

Our number three son is a senior at the University of Michigan. Why? First he was attracted to their distinctive football helmets, then he discovered that they have a respectable school of engineering, he applied, and they accepted his application. [The fact that this son of Minnesota, me, did not particularly want his son to go to Michigan is not relevant - I just had to throw that in.]

In a few weeks our whole family will gather in Ann Arbor to share in his graduation.
We are thrilled for him, and we will bask in the reflected glory of his accomplishment.

Five years ago, no one in our bunch had even ever been in Ann Arbor, but these years have seen us focusing more and more of our attention there. We correspond regularly by e-mail and have frequent telephone conversations. We look forward to brief times of great fellowship, always with the nagging thought that he is going to need to return to school, too soon. Do I sound proud? OK! I am. He is the third among four who give us great delight.

For his part, he has become more and more at home in Michigan. He has developed a great circle of friends there from all over the world. He has visited in some of their homes, and those friendships have deepened with the passing of time. We have even become acquainted with some of his friends, and have enjoyed occasional conversations with them. For Brad, these have been some of his most satisfying, enriching times.

But now, in just a few weeks, he will go through an experience that will change all that. He will march into that arena, walk onto the stage, and receive a diploma acknowledging his accomplishment. He will walk off that platform a changed man. No longer a student at the University of Michigan, he will be an ALUMNUS! He will begin the life he has been preparing to live.

Notice how sad this all is. The circle of friends he has been developing for these years will be broken. No more late night cramming sessions. No more joining the largest gatherings of college football fans in The Big House on fall Saturday afternoons. No more long bull sessions discussing . . . . . whatever.

His family will gather in Ann Arbor and say, "Let's go home,"   and a few days later we will all be back in the state of Washington.   Keep this one thing clear; Washington is not our final destination, but this gives us a beautiful picture of something else.

My friend, Max Bailey, died this week. Max has spent several years developing a circle of friends. He has a wife who loves him, children, children-in-law, grand children, other relatives, and a whole host of people who have been part of his life all these years.

But more than that, he is just one example of what I believe is the purpose of this whole universe. The Bible begins with the story of God creating everything, including a special Garden prepared for the only being described as "in His Image, male and female."   It goes on to mention that "the Lord God used to come and walk with them in the cool of the day." [Genesis 3:8]

Could it be that those walks in the garden were the reason for the whole creation? I believe so. That rich friendship between God and humans appears to be the only such relationship in this one respect - only humans seem to have been given the capacity to turn away from God. That is what happened. "Each of us has turned to his own way." [Isaiah 53:6]   The recurring theme of the Bible is the invitation of God to every human to turn back toward God and walk with Him.

Max Bailey is an example of a man who walked with God. He is a part, as we all can be, of that great Family whose real home is Heaven. Early this week, a delegation from that Family, gathered in Portland and said, "Max, let's go Home."

Later this week many of us who have been "in school" with Max will gather for the graduation ceremony. We will remember the good times, the challenging times, the laughter, the tears, and so much more. Our circle has been broken, but Max has gone ahead and joined all the previous graduates of this school of life, and now he is enjoying the walks with God for which he was created.

What would Max say to the rest of us? If you are walking with God, stay with it. Graduation is worth all the time and effort in the school of life. If you are walking away from God, listen carefully to what He says to you. He genuinely wants you as His friend, but He will never force you. That would not be true friendship!

My friend, Max Bailey died this week. I miss him, but at least I can see why his death can be "precious in the eyes of God." Max has graduated!