Upon the passing of some men, we have to search around a bit
for good things to say. Not so with Barry. He lived* an exemplary life of
Christian sacrifice and service, so that words of commendation come easy. Barry
did not merely pass away; he left a priceless gift to those who knew him in the
example he set for us.
What made Barry such a remarkable character? Exactly that:
His character. He served his country in the military,
served the sick in the medical industry, and then served his church as a
pastor, foreign missionary, and evangelist. More importantly, he served his
immediate family with an example of leadership that some men can only hope to emulate.
(To know his wife and children is to know this to be true; to various degrees
and in various ways they reflect his influence.) Most importantly of all, he
served God with all his heart. Indeed, because of that love for God serving in general seemed to come
naturally and joyfully to Barry. Two days before his passing, he tweeted this
message: “How you love those who do
not love you back and give to those who have nothing to give in return is the
truest reflection of your character.”
Now, all of this
is not to say that Barry was syrupy-sweet (and he would be the first to
acknowledge his own sinfulness). To the contrary, he held to some serious “old
school” convictions that gave him a somewhat gruff veneer. And he was no stranger
to conflict or controversy. (He and I certainly did not agree about everything!) But like the proverbial “teddy bear,” his gruffness
very thinly overlaid a warmth and compassion for others that clearly ran deep. If
that didn’t win you over, the highly animated sense of humor did. I could go
on, but the description so far has left me with an impression that
speaks most highly of the man: Despite the inescapable flaws of his humanity, Barry
reminded me just a little bit of Jesus.
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