Despite our safe intentions, God has other plans
Published 8:09 am Friday, August 10, 2018
By Pastor Brandon Young
I wanted to share my recent experience with you all, and my prayer is that it will help you in some way. My friend and church member, David Desgro, came up to Cloudland Elementary this past May to assist with our annual career day. He spoke to the students about insurance, why we need it, and how much education you need to be an insurance salesman. He rode his beloved Kawasaki 750 Vulcan motorcycle up to the school that day. In fact, he rode his motorcycle about anywhere he went after he began riding in May of 2017. He loved riding.
Once he arrived, he set up a Nationwide Insurance display, along with some candy for the kids. He reached into another bag, and he said, “I have a small gift for you too!” He pulled out a blue and white Nationwide rubber ducky with the inscribed words “Make Safe Happen!” Honestly, this was the theme of David’s life. He spent a lot of time safeguarding the lives of others by reminding them to put up smoke detectors, fix broken steps, and making sure their car was maintained. If you stayed around David any amount of time, he would tell you what you needed to repair! He went to great lengths to help his clients have the right amount of insurance, and he listened when they had problems. He wasn’t just another insurance salesman. He cared about the lives of those around him!
He started attending our church about three years ago. This was before he began riding a motorcycle. I told him how much I enjoyed riding, and how much peace it brought me. The day came when he told me that he was going to buy a motorcycle and take the three-day riding course, and he wanted us to ride together. He found his perfect bike, we went and picked it up, he took the course, and he was riding! Every day he headed somewhere on his bike. He was in love, but not just with his bike. He had two dogs that meant the world to him. His long-time companion was named Bandit. He spoke of Bandit often, and he was always sharing stories of their adventures. He loved hiking the trails with Bandit by his side. David had a peace about him, and it seemed that everything was just exactly how he wanted it. He recommitted his life to Christ while at Harmony, and he once again had made safe happen. He safeguarded his soul with the blood of Jesus! He knew he was ready to meet the Lord.
David loved the Lord Jesus, his church family (especially the youth), his beloved dogs, and his Kawasaki! Recently, Bandit had gotten sick and the vet told David the dog was terminally ill. I will never forget David calling me at work to ask me to pray for his cherished pet. We began praying, and Bandit started doing much better. They spent quite a few more days together. Then on Wednesday, July 25, Bandit took a major turn for the worse. David called the vet and scheduled to put Bandit down on Thursday, July 26, at 10:30 a.m. He came to church that Wednesday evening to help pack the backpacks for the Back to School Bash. He was visibly upset. We prayed together, and I asked him if I could accompany him to the vet the next day. He declined and said he just wanted me to pray. I think he just wanted it to be him and Bandit one last time. David called me weeping at 5 a.m. on Thursday and I could hear Bandit yelping in pain in the background. He wanted me to pray that God would go ahead and take Bandit because he couldn’t stand to hear him cry out in pain. We prayed and talked for about 30 minutes. After we hung up the phone, my heart was broken for David, and I just continued to pray. At 6 a.m., David texted, “He’s Gone!”
David took Bandit’s remains to the vet at 7:30 that morning for cremation. He called me on the way back and asked if he could spend the day with me and my son, Grayson. I told him I would love to have his company as I worked preparing for the Back to School Bash. He loved the bash, and he told me that he took off on Friday as well to assist me as we prepared the church grounds for all the people. He wanted to make sure the grounds were safe in every way possible for all the attendees. He went by the church and prayed at the outdoor altar, and then he pulled his motorcycle in my driveway. He wondered if we would be riding the bikes to do the errands, but I informed him that we needed to haul items in my truck. He parked his motorcycle in my driveway, and we all headed out to Johnson City.
We made many stops along the way, and he continually spoke of Bandit! He would cry and laugh as he told stories from their past. He said that he hadn’t slept in two days due to Bandit being sick and he hadn’t eaten. We stopped by Freddy’s to get a burger, and thankfully, he ate. We had a wonderful lunch conversation. As we made our way back home, he spoke about how life was so short, and the only thing that mattered was being ready to die. He asked me if I thought that Bandit would be in heaven. I told him that I could not see how a dog that had brought him so much pleasure in life wouldn’t be there because heaven is a place of joy. He agreed and then he actually said, “Preacher, this could be our last day together!” At the time, I agreed, and I didn’t give it much more thought. We pulled into my driveway at 2 p.m. He said he would meet me at the church at 5:30 to get my truck and pick up a freezer that another lady in our church had purchased for the Back to School Bash. He said that he wanted to be out of the house, and to keep himself occupied. I told him that I loved him and goodbye. I watched him get on his motorcycle and ride out of sight. He went to mow his yard, and I went to mow mine. Around 5:10, my wife called to let me know that she would be late coming home. She was stuck in traffic from an accident. I asked her where she was located, and once she told me, I felt an odd feeling. Another person called to check on me because she heard that a motorcyclist had died and thought it could have been me. I knew at that point it was my friend, and I went on to the accident site. I watched as they loaded my friend in a body bag with his helmet. I felt like I was in a nightmare, and I just hoped to wake up.
David had pulled out of that road many times before, but on this day, he pulled into the path of a box truck. My friend, Mr. Safety as I called him, had not seen this truck for whatever reason, and he went to be with Bandit and Jesus! It is appointed unto men once to die, but thankfully David had made safe happen when he began a relationship with Jesus. He was ready! Are you ready to die? I know this is not a popular topic, but it could happen at any place or time. The only comfort I find since his death is knowing that in Christ Jesus, I will see my friend again in Heaven. My prayer is that you will “make safe happen” and begin a relationship before it is too late.
In Loving Memory of my friend David Desgro who went to be with Jesus on July 26, 2018
(The Solution Column is provided weekly by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton, and his associate pastor, Hunter Greene)