God Is With Us in the Dry Places & a tribute to Keith Kell

“God Is With Us in the Dry Places” 

Reflection for Sunday, October 1, 2023 

For Churchill Gilford Community of Faith 

Including Tribute to Keith Kell who died September 30, 2023 

Based on Exodus 17:1–17 and Matthew 21:23–32 

Krista M. Moore, M.Div. 

Today is a difficult day in our community. We have lost a great member,  one of our patriarchs, Keith Kell.  

He introduced himself to me at the Gilford barbecue last year when I was just  new, my first day – I didn’t realize at the time, but his wife had just died. And yet, he was so generous with his kindness and warmth, welcoming us to the family. As  a new minister, I could not have asked for a better welcoming committee.  Keith was generous, even though he was grieving. 

It is hard to imagine Churchill and Gilford without Keith. We will miss him  terribly.  

I visited Keith in the hospital last week up to yesterday, and even in his  weakest moment, he would make us laugh. But I can’t tell those jokes here.  Mostly there was joy, in the midst of difficulty. Belief in the face of death.  And humour no matter what. Keith had faith.  

We are not alone in our grief. It is not new to lose loved ones. And yet every  time it happens, it feels like something the whole world should know. Like the  world will never be the same without them. And it won’t.  

But we can be comforted by God’s promises today.  

We can be joyful that one of our own has returned home, comforted by the  faith of his childhood, singing his favourite hymns (although his last song was a  total surprise, Lord It’s Hard to be Humble when you’re perfect in every way) and  we all sang it with him! 

In our Scriptures there is also hardship and loss.  

The Israelites are also far from home – the one they left behind in Egypt – and they have not yet arrived in the Land of Milk and honey. It is that in between  place. And they are thirsty. They lack faith. Their faith is tested. They cry out to  Moses for water.  

Moses holds strong in the face of hardship. He asks God to help them. And  God tells him to strike a rock, and water gushes out. The people have water.  It’s a simple story, but there’s something deeper.  

God is with us in the in between places. The dry places. Where there is  hardship, fear, loss. Uncertainty of what lies ahead. What will life be like? Will we  make it to the promised land?  

We can relate to this when we lose someone we love. Nothing will remain  the same. We are moving somewhere unfamiliar. Grief. Separation. Loss. 

God often gives us hints of a new reality, like water gushing from a rock to  quench our thirst, to help us get through to the next chapter.  

I have witnessed this personally – when Steve’s father passed away and he  spoke of what he saw – he reached out to touch his late wife, and his best friend  and dog who also passed. He seemed elated and excited to rejoin them. All the  struggle of his illness finally left him and he drifted peacefully into the night. But I  will never forget the joy on his face as he faced his heavenly reunion.  

That spiritual glimpse into another reality that we cannot see here, gave us  great comfort. And we know that he is in a good place.  

God promises to be with us in the difficult places. And God promises us  eternal life. We can hold fast to our faith, and when we fail, God gives us strength,  like water gushing from a rock, to quench our thirst.  

How can we face all those challenges alone, we might think. Today we are  reminded, we are not alone.  

JESUS was no stranger to grief. Yes, JESUS.  

Just before today’s passage, he gets the news that his dearly beloved cousin,  John the Baptist, has been killed by Herod. He goes off to be by himself. He was  no stranger to grief. 

YES, Jesus Cried. Jesus mourned. Jesus prayed. Jesus too, was tested at  times, and relied on his great faith in God. Jesus knew what comes next – unlike  us, he could see that John was with God. And so would he be.  

In today’s passage, he is healing and teaching in the temple and the temple  police and pharisees try to condemn him and question his authority.  Jesus uses the example of his cousin, John the Baptist, whom he says there is  none greater in heaven. He knows he will be next, as he will be crucified shortly  after.  

Jesus does not get angry, but he defends John’s ministry. John paved the  way for Jesus to complete his. And now Jesus has to face his own death and  resurrection. He knows he will be resurrected, and yet death is hard. Even for  Jesus.  

God is merciful. God knows our pain and sorrows.  

God knows what we need. And gives us comfort, and glimpses of the future  to keep us going.  

When we are struggling in the desert places – whether it be an addiction, a  loss, separation, loneliness, depression, – God will strike a rock and give us water.  Jesus will remind us we are not alone – we all suffer at times. We all know  what it is like to lose someone. Or to worry about the future. But Jesus says, do not  worry, for I have overcome the world. 

Back to Keith. I never had the pleasure of meeting Helen. But I can assure  you that Keith adored his wife. And his whole family. He never stopped talking  about them! Even when he was feeling lonely, or having trouble with his health, he  kept going. He never gave up.  

It is not easy to lose a loved one. It is not easy for a community of faith to  face change. Life keeps changing. We keep moving, like the Israelites moving  toward the Promised Land. 

And sometimes, sometimes, we get a glimpse of it.  

Like one lady I visited last week because I happened to be visiting Keith  (God works in mysterious ways). She wanted to end her life, she was so miserable.  She was in a lot of pain and suffering.  

But Keith Kell was right beside her. And she asked, “Is he good looking?” I  said, “Well, of course!” And I told her, “You’re husband’s in trouble.” And we  laughed.  

She had some difficult decisions to make about her health, her life. She was  struggling.  

But when we played some of Keith’s favourite hymns, she joined in. 

It was like water suddenly gushed from a rock, and her eyes widened and  she sang and laughed. She was so grateful.  

Again, I visited Keith but his room had changed, and so after I saw him, I  went down the hall, and wondered if my friend was still in the same room. And  there she was.  

I was so surprised.  

She was sitting up, bright eyed, and said, “There you are again! I was hoping  you would come back.”  

And she said, “I changed my mind!” She decided to live.  

Maybe it was her family that talked her into it; or maybe it was the joy she  felt that day singing alongside Keith Kell and his family.  

I told her, don’t worry, something good will happen out of all of this.  She looked at me, and I think she knew what I was talking about.  She said, “Do you really believe all that stuff?”  

And I said, absolutely!  

I offered to play her another hymn, but she turned me down.  

Do you know what she wanted more than anything?  

A drink of water.  

A new gentleman was in the next bed because Keith had been moved down  the hall. 

And this man had the same problem. The water machine was broken.  And they were so thirsty.  

So I said, “Oh, well I can find you some water!”  

So I left them and went on a search, a mission really. It was the one thing I  could do to make their life, their moment better.  

I found a nurse and she got me two cups with lids and straws, of cold, fresh  water. I could feel the coolness in my hands. Better than Timm’s I bet!  I returned to their room, and now both their eyes lit up.  

Oh, thank you! They said.  

And the last thing I did for her was hold her cup up to her lips so she could  sip it and bring relief to her dry lips. She drank and drank. And then she was  satisfied. Her family was coming the next day. She was so excited. All the way  from Ottawa.  

All she needed was someone to listen to her and bring her a cold cup of  water.  

God will find us wherever we are.  

God can bring water gushing from a rock.  

God can bring a stranger to bring us kindness or compassion.  

God can bring life, even out of death or mourning.  

God can show us a glimpse of the hereafter. 

Jesus knows our thoughts and feelings. He’s been there.  

Jesus overcame death, and sorrow, and loves us still, he is still here.  And he will greet you and me, and all those you love, when it’s time.  For now, we drink the water of life, the waters Jesus gave us to heal our  sorrows and give us hope and strength.  

God will fill us with joy, even amid hardship and loss.  

God will give us what we need. God gave us Jesus, so we would know what  it means to be loved.  

God is with us.  

Christ is with us.  

Thanks be to God.  

Amen.  

Let us close our eyes and take a moment to receive some of Christ’s living water.  

CHRIST 

I am with you even to the ends of the earth.  

I told you this, and I know where you are going.  

I will be with you always. 

Have no fear, for God is with you.  

God is near.  

I love you. I am with you.  

I will always be there for you.  

Be at peace.  

Let me heal your injuries.  

Let me heal your heart.  

I will give you healing waters.  

I will give you peace and joy.  

And singing.  

I will give you beauty for ashes.  

I will give you love.  

Amen.  

Reflective Song Like A Healing Stream