Wendell Link - 11/21/21

Today we have gathered to remember a life worth remembering, mourn a significant loss, and rejoice in the hope that endures.

It was Jesus who said,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Jesus told His friends Mary and Martha,

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. (John 11:25-26)

Will you pray with me?

O Lord, we come to you numb from all that has taken place this last week. Help us to grieve and help each other in this process. Draw us close. Help us to remember and celebrate Wendell’s life. Help us also to gain an eternal perspective on the day.

Wendell Link was not a person who talked a great deal about his faith. In fairness, many people of his generation viewed faith as essential, but private. Fortunately, Alan had a conversation with Wendell many years ago now, and in that conversation, Wendell asked Christ to be His Savior. This gives us confidence that Wendell is now with the Father and enjoying the new life he has received through the grace of God in Christ.

I liked Wendell. One of my cherished memories is a time (it might have been Thanksgiving) Wendell and Eleanor invited my wife and me to dinner with the family. The welcome was as warm as the hospitality. This had to be close to 40 years ago, and I will never forget that kindness.

When Wendell came to church, he didn’t usually make many comments about the service or the sermon. But, the fact that he came with Eleanor was a statement in and of itself. Wendell served on the building committee that added the addition to the church.

To give you a fuller picture of Wendell’s life, I will let Barbara tell you about her dad.

[Barb Recording]

Wendell Link was tough as nails yet could be wonderfully tender as he cuddled with one of the kids or grandkids on the couch. He had a wonderfully tender side that would sometimes come out. Like the times he saved Bruno’s life even though others would have put him down simply because his daughter loved Bruno. He even got ponies for the kids.

Wendell took pride in his farming. Things always looked good in and around the farm. He wanted his rows straight, the equipment clean, the buildings painted, and the weeds out of the drive. His motto was clear and consistent, “you get your work done before you play.” On the farm, everyone had work to do. There were beans to walk, pigs to move and castrate, livestock to sort. Farming was not his occupation; it was his calling. Even after Wendell knew it was not safe for him to farm anymore, he loved getting reports from Brad and Christopher on the work at the farm.

He was proud of his service to his country, and I get the feeling he felt he was “just doing his job” like everyone who served. He didn’t make a big deal out of his two bronze stars. It always meant something to him when he could stand and be recognized as one who faithfully served his country. He enjoyed visiting with old army buddies.

Wendell was honored when he was Fletcher’s honored guest for their Veterans Day program. It was a long day, but it meant the world to Wendell. He was impressed by the respect shown by the students. He loved this country.

It was fun as I listened to everyone talk about their relationship with dad/grandpa. His children talked about the chores and the memories they had of watching Wendell work. Wendell wanted his children to understand hard work. And he wanted them to take pride in their work.

Wendell had several health issues over the years, but he took things in stride and never complained. When his eyesight failed (primarily because of a bad outcome from a medical procedure), he did not complain; he was not bitter; he adapted. He walked to the coffee shop when Eleanor couldn’t drive him even though a lesser man would have concluded it was too dangerous. He loved the camaraderie of the guys around the table.

One of the consequences of Wendell having eyesight issues is that his other senses seemed to be heightened. Nurses would come into his room and start yelling, and Wendell would put his hand up and say, “You don’t need to yell. My eyes are bad, but my ears work well.” After all his health issues, he became more verbal.

He had a truckload of stories to tell. He wasn’t an exceptionally sentimental man (until the later years). He wasn’t a man who felt he needed to say, “I love you” all the time, but he showed his love in many other ways.

The Grandkids tell different stories. They remember swinging on the swing, enjoying the quiet of the farm, sleeping in the sunroom, and even giving grandpa a hard time (especially Randy and Mitchell). They all enjoyed the sleepovers, the breakfasts at the restaurant, and the way Grandpa made the grandkids all feel special.

Once Amanda seemed to be talking all the time, creating a weariness in those around her. She started to develop a slight stutter. It was Grandpa who observed that she just needed someone to listen to her.

Amy tells how she would sit between grandma and grandpa in her early adult years. It was her job to elbow Wendell when he would fall asleep in church (that was always when someone else was preaching!) She also credits her grandparents with expanding her tastes in food.

Wendell would tell stories that seemed farfetched and would tell them with great detail. The various kids (especially Christopher) would check out these details on the Internet (wondering if Grandpa imagined things) only to find out he was not only telling the truth . . . he had remembered all the details with uncanny accuracy!

The family also shared some of Wendall’s secrets. For example, Eleanor would send him to the coffee shop with only so much money so he would drink coffee and not eat anything. (She didn’t want him getting fat!) However, he always seemed to find a little money for something to eat! She also never let him have candy (so he stashed all his candy out in the barn!)

He loved Eleanor. They loved to travel, play cards, and do things with their family. Their door was always open. They might bicker with each other, but YOU had better not come at either of them because they would unite against you.

Wendell was a man of integrity who had a great work ethic. He provided well for his family. He respected the land and had a tender heart, and he admired anyone who worked hard.

If you knew Wendell, you liked him. I know I did.

[Word of God Speak]

There is a gem of a passage tucked away in the corner of the book of Ecclesiastes.

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.

And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.

After all, everyone dies—

so the living should take this to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter,

for sadness has a refining influence on us.

4 A wise person thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only about having a good time. (Ecc 7:1-3)

What makes this passage special is the startling wisdom it presents. It is so counterintuitive to the way we tend to think. As people approach a weekend, you don’t hear many of them say, “I am looking forward to the weekend so we can . . . go to a funeral!” No, most people would instead go to a party.

Solomon says though you may have fun with your friends at a party, it is temporary. There is no lasting benefit and almost no redeeming value. But a funeral, says Solomon, is different. A funeral should lead you to think. Life becomes much clearer at a funeral than at a party.

There are some other specific benefits of a funeral.

First, you see the temporary nature of life. A funeral can be a kick in the pants and challenge you to stop squandering your time. We don’t know how much time we have. You can’t continue to put off living, or you may end up dying before you have a chance to truly live.

Second, a funeral helps us see through the junk of life to discern what is truly important. All that stuff we chase during our lives, all the material things we want and surround ourselves with, turn out to have no value when we reach the end of our lives. What matters are the little things: the example we set, the integrity with which we live our lives, the moments swinging on the swing or listening to stories of another’s journey through life. It’s people that matter most, not things. It is all those little points of contact, the expressions of love, the acts of kindness, the way you go about living. These are the things you cherish about your dad, your grandpa, your friend. A funeral can help us to reorient our lives. It can help us to focus on relationships more than stuff.

Third, funerals tend to draw families together. They remind us that the things that divide us are pretty trivial. The most influential people in your life are those who are part of your family. Cherish them. Appreciate them. Listen to their stories. Share your stories with them.

Finally, a funeral reminds us that our relationship with God is the most important thing of all when all is said and done. Again, it is just the opposite of the way most people live their lives. We tell ourselves we will someday get serious with God, and we don’t have time for Him right now because we’re too busy. But as we sit here today, we should realize at the end of our short lives, the only question that matters is, “What have you done with Jesus?” Have you ignored Him or embraced Him?

I hope the Lord leads you to take stock of where you stand with Jesus during this time. Most people feel good about Jesus, they would even say they like Jesus, but the question on that final day will not be how you felt about Christ. The question will be, did you turn to Him to rescue you from the sinful and stupid things you’ve done and too often continue to do? God will ask if you were willing to bet your life on Him. Did you recognize Him as the One who alone could save you? Did you embrace Him and follow Him, or did you just wave from the window?

Jesus said to those He called, “Follow Me.” Some made excuses, some simply refused. I suspect some people intended to “get around to it” someday. Those people will ultimately stand before God and get the bad news that they are cast from His presence, and all of their life will be a pile of meaninglessness and pain.

But those who do follow, those who trust Him and orient their lives around Him, will have a different experience. They will be welcomed to the place God prepared for them, a place more wonderful than our minds can imagine. These people will spend the rest of eternity giving thanks to the God who saved them, and they will enjoy life far superior to the best days here.

This is why our sadness is tempered today. We know this is not the end for Wendell. In reality, it is the beginning. All of his life to this point is just the title page to the fantastic story that lies ahead. Our sadness need not be for Wendell. He is better than he has ever been. Our appropriate sadness is for our loss, not his.

So in this sadness, don’t waste this opportunity. Use this time to see what is essential in your life. Evaluate your priorities. Cherish the people around you. And by all means, if you have never truly trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, don’t waste another minute. The sobering reality is this: the next funeral could be ours.

We also want to remember and reflect on the lessons that Wendell taught us,

1. You choose your attitude. You can be grumpy, or you can roll with life. The choice is yours. You can whine about how hard life is, or you can find a way to enjoy the life you have.

2. Little things (like straight rows, a weedless drive, well cared for machinery) are indicators of how a person lives their life. Jesus said if you are faithful in the little things, you can be trusted with more important things.

3. When someone tries to dictate what you can and cannot do or eat, it is silly to fight with them. Simply keep a stash of what you like to eat somewhere they won’t look.

4. Most people just want someone to listen to them.

5. What we call “little things” are actually “big things.”

6. Marriage is about companionship, endurance, and sticking up for one another.

7. What you invest in developing your faith in this life will pay dividends far superior to anything this world can offer you. Invest well.

[Song]

Father, we thank you for the life of Wendell Link. We thank you for his service, character, work ethic, and rich example of what life can and should be. We ask you to welcome Him into your kingdom because He trusted in Christ as his Savior.

Bring comfort and closeness to this family. As they go through the holidays, keep them connected. Help them to remember fondly.

Most of all, help us to reflect well on the events of this day. Wake us up to the shortness of life. Help us to be prepared for the eternity that awaits all who believe. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen

The family will meet with friends in the Fellowship Hall (across the parking lot) following the committal service at the cemetery.