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 Heaven’s Got a New Santa

The following was written and read by Billy at the recent funeral of his friend Richard who was killed in a tragic accident on November 6, 2003 .

    The Christian life is so full of blessed joy and happiness…most of the time.  So much sharing…laughter…so much love.  Richard and Liz Burleson are part of the Body of Christ that brings that precious love of God into my life, and into the lives of our Sunday school class.  Our lives are interwoven with the unbreakable thread of Jesus Christ, who binds us together now and for eternity.

    We love them, and we rejoice in the opportunity to share our lives with them.  Although many of us haven’t met them, we love Richard and Liz’s family because we love Richard and Liz.  We have shared in the stories of children and grandchildren.  We have praised God hearing them tell about their Christmas ministry when Richard becomes Santa for so many children.  That time of sharing is symbolic of a life who shared all year long with us.  I can close my eyes and see the joy of those precious children as they sit upon the lap of Santa, and I think what a joy it is be a Christian and to have such wonderful Christian friends as Richard and Liz.

    But today I am reminded of a different reality that goes with my Christian faith…a reality that challenges the very essence of what I believe and the witness of the Christian community to the world.

    Her name was Stephanie, the sweetest little nine year old girl in the world, who attended the church I pastored when I was in college.  Every Sunday I would get a special blessing as Stephanie would hug my neck and tell me she loved me as she left the church.  Her smile and dark brown eyes reminded me that was still plenty of good in the world and renewed my resolve to try to help make this world a better place for Stephanie to grow up in.  When I received word that Stephanie had been struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding her bicycle, all my theology was reduced to one simple word…one simple question: “Why?”

    Today, I am many years older and hopefully wiser and deeper in my faith than I was then.  But I still don’t have the answer to that question, “Why?”  I simply don’t know why sweet little girls get run over by drunk drivers.  I don’t know why fathers must suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.  I don’t know why good people get cancer.  And I don’t know why wonderful friends who are Santa for others have fatal accidents.

    I don’t know why, but there are some things I do know.  I do know God uses all things for His glory.  I do know people who are Christians today because God used Stephanie’s accident to touch their lives.  And I do know I am a more committed Christian today because of the life of Richard Burleson.  I intend to give more to others because that’s what Richard did.

    I do know how easy it is to be a Christian when things are going well, but our real witness as a Christian community to the world is how we face tragedy, even death itself.  We face it with victory because of Jesus Christ, who has overcome death.  It is during times like these we find out what we are all about…more so that the world finds out what we are all about.  The world desperately needs what we feel today…the hope and joy that overcomes all situations…all difficulties.

    Liz, I do know we love you…we love you and your family and we will be there for you.  Through Christ, we will not let you down.  We will cry with you now and we will laugh with you again.  But most importantly, I do know that Christ is with you and He will never leave you.  He brings hope and even joy to the darkest moments of our lives.  Jesus promises His presence in your life and He always keeps His promises.

    And something else I know…Richard is in a better place.  He’s in the place Christ has prepared for him.  He is now experiencing that which we could only talk about in Sunday school.  Richard saw in a mirror dimly, but now he sees face to face!  He is experiencing the presence of Christ in all His glory.  We miss him, but we would not wish him back, because at least in my mind, Richard’s doing what he always loved to do…somewhere in heaven, there a sweet little nine year old girl, smiling and sitting on Richard’s knee…cause Heaven’s got a new Santa.  Thanks be to God.

By:  Billy Coleman

In Loving Memory of Richard Burleson

November 9, 2003

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