Oh, this is a sad day…
So many memories. He made me laugh and cry and praise my Lord all in the space of a couple minutes of visiting. I enjoyed Big Lang on a daily basis. Some days were better than others, but each encounter was memorable.
It was new for both of us. He’d never known a “you-so-white-suburban-child” and I’d never trusted a past convict with my life. He let me know I could call him night or day and he’d be there to help. He’s the one who told me I was “livin’ in the ‘hood.” No, not South Dallas, but the ‘hood, nonetheless. He learned that some people had never stepped foot in a liquor store (that would’ve been me) and I learned that some people had never known safety, or freedom from fear.
Goodness.
Now,
He’s gone.
And, he left without me knowing…
I saw him last Thanksgiving, but I’d moved away from the complex. We didn’t see one another on a regular basis. Today, I saw on Facebook that the movie in which he has a role is coming out this summer, “Seasons of Gray.” I went to my site to read about him, and then clicked on his site to see if he’d posted anything new.
“Roderick Lang passed away on Friday, December 14th, 2012…”
It had only been three weeks since I’d seen him. Oh, how I wish I’d called him back the last time I saw his number in my missed calls list. It wasn’t a good day for me. It might not have been a good day for him . . . Oh, please, dear Lord, don’t let that be the day!
He taught me so much in the short space of time I knew him. He struggled, day in and day out, with his past. But, he knew his God and had enormous faith in the promise of new life in Jesus. On his worst days I wouldn’t see him . . . but most days he was outside, three doors down, sitting on his back patio. And oh, so happy to get to visit for a few minutes! He’d share a funny memory, a joke, or a tall tale just to hear me laugh. He said I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and he just wanted to help lift it a bit. He had no fear of letting me know my dog looked like she was on drugs and needed a good grooming! He’d come to the back door, knock, and ask me to join him for coffee on the patio. Oh, so many memories…
Oh, Jesus.
Thank you.
Thank you for letting me meet Rod.
Thank you for letting him be my friend.
Please, hug him for me.
A huge bear hug. He’s such a big man…
Please…
Big Lang
Roderick Earl Lang
Rod
Thank you, Jesus, for letting him rest in Your peace.
For eternity.