By Mwalimu-Mku Moses Blonkanjay Jackson /CEO, Diversified Educators Empowerment Project (DEEP)
Thinking Thoughts
In my thinking thoughts, a sorrowful feeling overtook my human agency regarding a shocking news that shook the foundations of our Republic bridled by diverse vices including economic instability with a subtle and dire need for maximum security; the passing of the vivacious Col. Meekie S. Gray. To be vivacious is to be young, spirited, full of life, cheerful and lively.
You see, when an old person in his 60s or 70s dies, although grieving, people are apt to say “Aha, what a life well lived. Go home to rest”. People then surrender the soul of the old and deceased into the care of the Compassionate Savior with confidence that heaven will be his final resting place.
But when a young person like the vivacious Meekie Gray closes his eyes permanently, when a young spirited policeman lies down to physically rise no more, it becomes painstakingly hard to decipher why the Compassionate Savior would usher home such an energetic character so soon.
Fellow Liberians, the death of young Meekie takes me back to a touching eulogy delivered by a renown Baptist Minister at the funeral of one of our colleagues. This colleague had traveled and completed his studies in Maritime Economics and was returning home to Liberia with his revered credentials when he drowned. Imagine acquiring a degree in “water affairs” and getting drowned in a swimming pool.
As the comrade’s casket rolled down the aisle of Providence Baptist Church, we wailed and wept with bewilderment and questions. “Why would the Compassionate Lord choose to take home a very young, vivacious, prosperous young man who had endured the rigors of academic excellence?” Albeit, when the Baptist pastor took the pulpit our answer came swiftly in his theme, “The Old Must die but the young MAY go”
You see, the old MUST die, and that is a fact. The Bible says every human being under the sun is supposed to live three scores and ten or longer by virtue of strength. If you do not believe it, you will feel it because as you approach that twilight age, your body begins to give indications it would soon be shutting down to take you to your final resting place at the Savior’s feet. The bones begin to ache, the backbends, appetite is poor and sometimes forgetfulness steps in.
But while the old MUST die, the young May go ahead of the old and this is the case of Meekie. Although Meekie was young, vivacious and still experimenting life, although he looked healthy and did not appear to be qualified to go at this time, although he possessed a strong attraction to the niceties of this wretched earth, although he was not yet near three scores and ten, he was selected to go anyway.
I am sure Meekie was not happy to leave the National Police Force so abruptly without notice, where he had served so diligently for many years. Through an eye of faith, I saw death walk confidently towards Meekie’s sickbed that faithful day and ordered him to rise up and follow. The very vivacious policeman Meekie may have reminded Death that he was still young and still experiencing life; that he was awake almost every night on the security beat responding to emergencies; when traffic jammed, he ran there. Meekie may have informed Death he was still managing security intelligence and ensuring police standards were on point; he may have asked Mr. Death, what indications did he gave that it was time to go at so young an age?”
Death may have simply smiled and answered, “The old MUST die but the young may go, and the Master Compassionate Jesus has simply asked me to come and escort you. He is waiting to receive you” As a trained cop accustomed to taking orders, Col. Meekie Gray may have just gotten up and walked with death as they took on the journey leading to the Master’s feet.
But strangely, Death himself was consoling Meekie. He said, “At the Master’s feet, there will no more back biting; no more dangerous assignments to quell riots; no more night patrols; no more hunger and no more sickness, Meekie” “You will be in the bosom of Abraham from now henceforth resting, Meekie; you will not come back to the Liberia National Police Force but will be seated at the feet of Jesus in peace and serenity” O death where is thy sting, grave where is your victory?
I encountered Meekie only twice in his lifetime when somebody was giving me direction to a location on Duport road and said, “Go to Meekie Gray junction”. The second time was when Meekie released my vehicle from the impounding lot. “Your let the pappay car out immediately. Make sure everything is intact. Do you copy?” he ordered his men and walked fast past me.
Fellow compatriots, in few days the nation will display a huge throng of vehicles with a splendid Police marching band; there will be an elaborate funeral as Col. Meekie Gray’s casket draped with the national colors lies in state. There will tributes cataloguing his achievements and exploits during his short life on earth. Sad to note, all this will culminate into taking our young vivacious hero to his final earthly resting place and turning our backs so that he can begin his final journey alone.
The Farewell
Farewell Col. Meekie S. Gray, you will be missed. As Col. Gray takes his journey home, we wish we still had him around, but we can’t. All we can do for now is bid him farewell until we meet him again at Jesus’ feet as was exegeted in the favorite 19th-century hymn, “God be with you till we meet again” (Jeremiah ranking, 1880)
As we bid Meekie farewell, join me and let us unite our hearts in prayer and reflect the hymn, God be With You Till We Meet Again; Goodnight son, we wish you an assured safe journey (note the second stanza).
God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you,
God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
’Neath His wings securely hide you,
Daily manna still provide you,
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put His arms unfailing round you,
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you,
God be with you till we meet again.