Today I went to a memorial service. Graham Ingram passed away on 20th February after a struggle with a number of health issues. He was 78.
I knew Graham mainly through Mike who knew him from when he heard him preach during his Bible College days. Graham was an amazing preacher.
Many of my own encounters with him were at the gym in Fish Hoek where he spent many hours keeping fit. From time to time we would stop to chat and he was always very sociable. When I did two years of weekly evening studies at Fish Hoek Bible school, Graham was one of the lecturers for one of the studies. He was stern, but excellent. I remember one incident that happened one evening that always makes me smile. Graham did not like to be interrupted while he was lecturing. He sat at the head of the boardroom table and he spoke for 55 minutes, had a 10 minute break and then spoke for another 55 minutes. Some time into the first part of the lecture, someone’s cell phone went off. The ring tone was laughing children! He stopped talking and glared around the table. We all froze for a moment. The owner of the phone held her breath. Graham cocked his head to one side and said, ‘oh it’s just children playing outside!’ The owner managed to surreptitiously silence the “children”.
Graham lived alone, so one December when I encountered him at the gym, I asked him if he would like to come to our home for Christmas. He said yes. That year we also had two other single ladies over. I well remember Graham sitting with all around him – he ‘held court’ discussing all sorts of subjects and ideologies. He was always so very interesting to listen to.
I also used to see Graham in the Mall and it was in Woolworths that I last saw him several months ago. He seemed a bit disheveled and while he recognised me and we stopped for a brief chat, I could see he had aged and was frail.
While I was saddened to hear of his passing, it was bitter sweet. Graham is free. He is perfect. He is whole. He is in eternity. He cannot be in a better place. He is with Jesus who he loved and served his whole life.
He will not be forgotten.
His memorial service was victorious with wonderful worship and a strong word. He would have approved.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
The race is marked out for us. Graham is among the great cloud of witnesses urging us to RUN STRONG.
#220 of my 1000 thanks is inspiration from Graham’s life to live life better and in light of eternity. Don’t live with regret. Run looking to the finish line.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂