Here are my reflections after returning from a memorial service a few weeks back for my longtime friend, Fred Owens.
I met Fred at a Kiwanis luncheon more than a decade ago. He was considering transferring his Kiwanis membership to our Santa Barbara club after moving south from La Conner, Washington, near the Canadian border.
Fred was quite cautious about jumping into our dynamic group. I had the pleasure of befriending him and sponsoring him over the ensuing months.
On my first meeting with Fred away from Kiwanis, I quickly discovered he was an accomplished writer. That became a launching pad for our friendship.
I had been dabbling in writing for years, and we found there was much to discuss over coffee moving forward. We mostly steered clear of politics and religion, since our views on those topics were incongruent.
We truly enjoyed each other’s company and complimentary sense of humor.
As program chairman for our Kiwanis Club, I recommended Fred as a possible guest speaker. After twisting his arm, he humbly accepted and presented his literary work Frog Hospital to our group.
As I recall, Fred sold around a dozen copies at that lunch meeting! That was the real beginning to his involvement in our club. He later went on to serve for a number of years on our Board of Directors.
If I’m not mistaken, his involvement allowed him to expand his existing Frog Hospital Blog, which continues to bless those who enjoy his humor and wit.
One of the greatest gifts I’ve experienced since accepting Christ as my Savior and Lord in 1984 has been the joy of friendships that have lasted for years.
Being a friend to the end is an awesome honor and responsibility. Sadly, many friendships come to an end pretty abruptly. I was disheartened when I learned Fred had contracted Parkinson’s disease and later an inoperable brain tumor.
Fred did get to participate in a few of our early Santa Barbara Writers Group breakfast meetings until his failing health would no longer allow him to drive.
For nearly a year our interaction was limited to email and an occasional phone conversation. Then, he shared he was residing at Serenity House and I knew I needed to visit him very soon.
We had an intimate discussion that first visit and I sensed Fred would be with us for some time. Sadly, the next visit caught me totally off guard and it was obvious that his time here on earth was drawing to the end. He could barely talk.
With the permission of his partner, Laurie, we prayed for Fred’s peace as he prepared to join his Creator face-to-face. I believe we all sensed God’s presence in that room.
Fred passed the next day and I suspect he received last rites from a Catholic priest, but what’s most important is that special time witnessed by Fred, Laurie, me and the Holy Spirit as part of God’s preparation for a triumphal entry into the heavenlies.
I cannot speak with authority of Fred’s eternal destination, but in my heart I sense his final time on earth was spent quite close to God. He was a good man who revered God as the end grew near.
Being a friend to the end is a great honor. Knowing Fred was a great honor as well.
And knowing God wants none to perish moves me to share Him with those He places in my path.
In John 14:6-7 we are told “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’”
I’m pretty certain Fred knew Him. How about you?