Homecall: Alistair Sheach... 1982 - Feb 17, 2005

A good friend was called home to be with our LORD just two days ago, around noon on Feb 17, 2005. Alistair Sheach, a non-stop talker, and a happy-go-lucky, enjoyed life kinda guy. He was on his way up north to lend a hand to his little sister who was looking after his folks property while they were away on a missions trip in Bolivia... and while his older brother was away helping Tsunami victims in Sumatra. (the folks are back now, and Chris will be in the air, arriving here 4 hours from now)

It was sudden, and totally unexpected. Few details are out on what exactly happened, but it appears that weather (visibility) was a factor. I had just seen him the other day, he came into our office to have his eyes checked. Friday morning one of the doctors came to me and asked that I cancel his order for glasses; I hadn't heard yet, and as I had a hectic and busy day ahead of me, I think she didn't want to tell me yet. (or thought that I knew already) It was a hard thing when I heard a short time later, while trying to fix someone's glasses... I had a hard time getting the screw back in the hole, my hand was shaking too much. (I guess the Lord guided my hand, because I let go of the screw in the air, and it fell exactly into place so I could finish the job) It was really hard then to place his file in our "deceased" box. I had to put it a few rows back so I couldn't see it when I walked past. He had just got the ball rolling on a Youth conference on spiritual gifts... we've picked up the torch and are gonna keep it going.

We're still waiting on details, but I know it will a good funeral. Only Christians can say that, eh? I've been to a couple of tragic funerals of young people, and at all of them, there was a quiet sense of peace, and glad sharing of past memories, and rejoicing knowing that he's at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ... someone who's ear he'll never be able to talk off, and who'll never tell him to be quiet. We'd been joking and telling him that over the last few weeks... and you know what? I'm so glad that he was so stubborn, because now all of us have a fresh memory of his voice echoing through our hearts. Thanks Al, for sticking to being yourself, right up to the end.

Here's to the memories; Arkell Road Soccer Chapel (and cringing in terror when you had the ball, and he was comin your way...) The LOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG talks on car rides. (never a dull moment! He had some great opinions...and some not so great!) My nemesis in Trivial Pursuit. A half decent Eurche player. ("You called it on what Al?!?!") Fat Al-bert ("hey-hey-hey!"), Yasser Al-a-fat, Ali-STAR, Big Al... the one, the only, Alistair Sheach.

Keep on talkin Big Guy.
I'm sure you'll have loads to tell us when we get there.