Charlie Daniels and the End of Time

Losing Charlie has surely broken my heart.  He and Hazel expressed such profound love and support for me and for the ministry of Laughing Child for more than 20 years.  I hope that Heaven has revealed to Charlie just how beautifully he was used by God in the lives of so many people.  I feel beyond blessed to have been included in his loving heart.  

Charlie was inexplicably kind to take the time to write me through the years.  Our communication this year contains a message that greatly impacted my heart.

In the last email that I received from Charlie, he wondered if these dark days are the beginning of the end of time.  He went on to express hope that people would realize—through the current chaos—that we are not ultimately in control.  It was a warm, humble, and hopeful letter.  I would have never dreamed that it would be our last exchange on this side of Heaven.  The end of time was right around the corner for wonderful Charlie.  Here is a short message that I think he would be happy for me to share with you:

There are many believers who are convinced that we are living in the last days.  Though I do not have an opinion about the timing of the last days, I do believe that the end of time, for each of us, is imminent.  Whether Jesus comes for you, or you go to him, your end is likely nearer than you think.  What if you were convinced that there is just a short time left for you in this world?  Would you rush to make any changes in your life?  How would you treat the people you love most?  How about the people you love least?  

I  wonder how it is that we can operate seamlessly under the wrong assumption that we have plenty of time.  Why do we subsist in an illusion that our better life can be lived in some un-promised tomorrow?  I have been reminded of a powerful quote in the midst of my grief: “The greatest failure in life is not to be unsuccessful.  The greatest failure is to be successful at something that does not matter”.  Charlie was an anointed steward of success. His deepest longing was to be useful to God.  I am challenged and inspired by his undisclosed caring, praying, and giving—which I witnessed throughout our friendship.  His love for God was expressed through the joyful living of a tirelessly compassionate life.  Folks, I believe that misguided success, much more than failure, threatens to obstruct our intimate relationship with a jealous God.  May we refuse to waste this priceless gift of life by merely chasing and achieving our neighbor’s ideas of “success”.   Last days or not, each of us will see Lord Jesus—face to face—very soon. We are indeed living close to the end of our days.  As Charlie would say,  “Let’s all make the day count”. 

shane