Andy Procee's Funeral

Beloved family and friends of Andy, it is hard not to feel robbed of a great treasure. From everything I have witnessed from family, friends, and from everything spoken today, we have suffered a great loss. Andy, while not perfect, was one of those people who bless and encourage others by their very presence.

He was the kind of uncle, grandfather, father, who would take time, and make time to share his passions. He would patiently answer questions about farming, trucks, equipment. He was beloved because of this. People loved going to the farm.

Donna, you’ve been left with a huge hole in your life. Right now, you’re doing a great, great job of surviving. And that’s good. That’s enough for you. Jeff, Loretta, Rea, Tom, brothers and sisters, it will be tough. There will be good days and bad days. Embrace them all.

Into this, into the reality of life and death, the Lord our God speaks. King David was a farmer like Andy. He tended flocks and herds. is how he waxed eloquently about his life in the field, but more importantly, his life in the Lord.

Into the hole left by Andy, I encourage you to turn to your good shepherd, Jesus. This will be hard to accept at the moment, but he is a greater husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend than Andy.

But in his amazing love, Jesus put something of himself in Andy. So that as we remember Andy, as we reflect on the good things in him, we see bits and pieces of Jesus.

From what I’ve heard, coming to the farm was like coming to the green pastures and still waters. Being there is restorative. Being with Jesus is like that. He restores us. He gives us what we need. And we can trust his faithfulness, even when we don’t understand why he takes some things away. We can still trust, for he is good.

Jesus leads us where we need to go, and through what we need to experience in order that we might be able to respond to him properly. Humans are proud, and readily accept praise and credit for things we haven’t done. Some times God reminds us of this.

Sometimes God leads us through difficult times. Sometimes we go through the valley of the shadow of death itself. Notice that we go only through the shadow. Jesus himself went deep into the darkness of death, so that all who trust in him, as Andy did, can know that they now and forever will live. And so, like Andy, one day, we too will journey that valley.

But here is the good news, for Andy, and for us. Jesus is with us every step of the way. Jesus gives us his presence and his assurance that no matter what we face, we do not have to fear evil, for he is with us. His rod and his staff they comfort us.

Now, I’ll confess, when I hear rod and staff, I can’t help but think about corporal punishment. But the rod and the staff were not used on the sheep, the shepherd used them to protect the sheep from wild animals and thieves.

Jesus protects us from the evil one. Jesus protects us from our enemies, so that nothing can beat us down and defeat us. That’s the comfort we get from Jesus.

Then, even when surrounded by enemies, Jesus prepares a feast for us. One day we will join Jesus in a banquet beyond imagination. And yet, even now, that food, that hope sustains us, Jesus pours out himself on us, so abundantly, that cups overflow. Ask the Lord to show you how he is with you and he will.

Of this we can be sure, goodness, mercy, and love will follow us all the days of our lives. And like Andy, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Andy wasn’t perfect. Even his trust in God wasn’t perfect. Neither am I, neither are you. None of us are as obedient as we ought to be. But here’s the thing. Jesus is. Jesus is perfect. He gave his perfect life for us. he is faithful. We can trust him. He is our salvation. Trust in him today. Trust him first to be with you, to bring you through these terrible days. Trust him with your life and he will never let you go. Great is His faithfulness. Amen.