Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Ivan (12/1/04)

On March 1, 1987, Ivan Myers died at the age of 50. Several summers ago I stood at his grave in Martinsville, Ohio, & cried. Ivan was one of the most gentle men I've ever known. His eyes were always alive, often with orneryness. When you talked, Ivan listened- really listened. And he asked questions, too. In fact, it was probably a combination of his talking & caring that led to the bank's foreclosure on his farm. He wasn't lazy. No way. But he loved people. Some of our best conversations were in his pick-up truck, while his tractor stood idling in the field, abandoned mid harvesting a row of corn.

Ivan was an elder in the church, and an excellent teacher to boot. He loved to read Chuck Swindoll, & you never knew which way the discussion would go in his adult Sunday School class. He'd play devil's advocate & really get people going, then back out of the discussion & watch them go at it!

But what I remember most about Ivan were his communion meditations. Never canned, everyone always listened a bit closer when it came his week, because they knew he'd talk about something he'd read recently, or relate a conversation he'd had with another farmer, or the grocery clerk, or something. Whatever it was, everyone knew it would be simple, real, & relevant. And those are always refreshing qualities.

Why do I share these thoughts with you? Because I never shared them with Ivan. We parted under difficult circumstances, & although I did see him 3 months before his sudden & unexpected heart attack, we didn't really have an opportunity to share beyond a surface level. We didn't always see eye to eye, but I never doubted his love for God, His Word, or people.

Thank you, Ivan. I have learned much that you probably never knew you taught.


Jim Dewar --