When I think about Ken I’m reminded of a part of the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus is teaching in the temple. His audience is astounded at what they were hearing. To that point the people had only heard about how bad they were and how much they were sinning. Jesus’ words were now giving them hope. A teacher of the law, a Pharisee asked Jesus a question.
He asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
This was how Ken lived his life. He was the embodiment of how Christ wanted us to live. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He was always willing to lend a hand expecting nothing in return. Shortly after Megan and I were married we were at the wedding of one of Megan’s friends. After the meal, without being asked, Ken and Nancy cleared all of the tables in the reception hall. That was as clear an example as any of Ken’s servant heart.
One of the most fascinating things I ever learned about Ken was how he became to be in Vietnam. He did not believe in war. But when the war in Vietnam began and Ken was drafted he chose to serve rather than run away. Instead of going to Vietnam with a gun to destroy, he went with a hammer to help build. I believe this is the epitome of loving your neighbor as yourself.
During the last two weeks as we were preparing for this service and I was looking through the hundreds of pictures and memories there were a few things that stood out to me. The smile on Ken’s face when he was with his family and his friends was unmistakable. The gleam in his eye when he was with Nancy, Megan, Josh, Joel, and then Emma was clear. Ken loved his family. Ken loved his friends. Ken loved his life.
There are people in this world who are not lucky enough to have one father figure in their life. I was fortunate enough to have two. Besides my own father, Ken was a great example of what it was to be a husband, a father, and a man.
I feel blessed to be a part of this family. I consider myself blessed that Ken treated me like one of his own. I am blessed to have known him.
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