Monday Morning Manna: Heaven is Looking Better

I lost another friend last week. Dr. James Leo Garrett, Jr. was a distinguished scholar, remembered by former students as a kind and gracious gentleman. He taught at Southwestern Baptist Seminary from 1949 to 1959 and again from 1979 to 1997. In addition, he taught at Southern Baptist Seminary from 1959 to 1973 and at Baylor University from 1973 to 1979.While some will eulogize him for his classroom teaching, others will refer to his writings, best known for his two- volume work, “Systematic Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical.” I will remember him for his humor, shared in casual conversations in our shared faculty office suite. He once told me of an absent-minded professor who was stopped by a student as he walked across the campus. At the conclusion of a lengthy conversation, the professor asked, “Can you tell me which way I was walking when you stopped me?” The student pointed the direction, to which the Prof. replied, “Good! That means I’ve had lunch.” Again, discussing our aging memories, Dr. Garrett said memory was similar to the track at the cleaners that carries clothes around and around the building until it gets them to the front desk. Then he added, the older one gets, the slower that thing moves.” I will miss him, but heaven is looking better all the time. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15).

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford