Opinion

The life of a good man

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

This past weekend Grannie Annie and your scribe met our son in Lincoln from his home in Southern California. Together we attended the funeral of the Reverend Doctor Merwyn Davidson in Aurora, Nebraska.

Oft times in life we neglect to say thanks for the men and women who touch our lives in positive ways. For our son, known as “Dusty” in high school, the man who served the Memorial United Methodist Church here in McCook definitely touched his life in many positive ways. Don now works in the I.T. industry and lives with his family in Yorba Linda, California about a mile from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. It was important for him to spend time with the Davidson family at the Celebration of Merwyn’s Life to pay tribute to the man who made such a positive impact on his life. I share with permission by the author:

Memories of Merwyn Davidson

Don Trail

My first memory of Merwyn Davidson was in January 1980. I remember because my family had just moved to McCook, Neb. My father had just retired from the Air Force and moved our family back to McCook to take over the family farm. Merwyn was the pastor at the United Methodist Church and he was making a visitation to us as a new family in town. I don't think in all the years we were in the Air Force we ever had a pastor do that type of thing. Our family was impressed at such a welcome. Of course, my father grew up in that church and my parents were married there, so it was almost a foregone conclusion that we would attend church there. However, being welcomed by this enthusiastic pastor sure did make a good impression on us.

One of the best things about Merwyn was his family. He had lots of children and they were all in our family’s age group. I was in 11th grade, between Mark and Carol, so we all became good High School friends. I also became friends with the rest of his family Wayne, Karen, Sharon and Lila. I remember loving to go over to their home after school and on weekends to play games or watch TV and do all kinds of fun youth activities. One year we all watched the Super Bowl together. They were such a welcoming family to us and the youth in the church. They really knew how to live the Christian life.

Betty was a big key to making everything work. She always prepared good food. Always had a kind word and was always encouraging us to walk out our faith in Jesus. What a great wife, mother and couple. Merwyn always expressed his deep love for Betty and always only had eyes for her. You can see by their own children and grandchildren the investment they made paid off well in so many ways.

Merwyn and the Davidson family had a profound influence in my spiritual foundation in becoming a follower of Jesus myself. He was so active with the youth in our church and had such a strong desire to lead them to a deep relationship with Jesus. He taught me so much about what it meant to be a Christ follower and encouraged many hundreds if not thousands to do the same over the many years of his life. I know he and Betty also spent a lot of time praying for the many people led into their lives.

After graduating from High School I attended the University of Nebraska for three years. Before I finished my university studies, I decided to move back to the farm and help my dad until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. Now as a young adult I had a different kind of relationship with Merwyn. He took time to meet with me one day a week for over one year and we would have challenging spiritual conversations. Although he was my dad's age, he always made me feel valued and listened to my opinions. He treated me as a friend. He was really one of my first in a long line spiritual mentors. I valued this very much and to this day have men in my life that I meet with and mentor once a week to do Bible study, hold accountable and share life with. Much like I did with Merwyn all those years ago.

Merwyn and Betty told me many stories about being missionaries in Japan. This planted the seeds in me to be a missionary myself. After I left McCook I ended up moving to Seattle and then became a missionary for two years in Taipei, Taiwan. I was able to share the gospel of Jesus there and had the privilege in leading many young people to Christ. Since moving back to the USA I have been part of a ministry that has seen hundreds of international students that are studying in the USA become Christians. I feel that Merwyn and Betty helped lay a spiritual foundation in my life that enabled me to be a Christian missionary to the world.

Many times when people pass away, we hear the words, “I am sorry” or “my condolences”. Although I will miss Merwyn in this life I know he is now praising God in Heaven. So I don’t feel sorry, I am thanking God for this wonderful man's well-lived life. I have so much gratefulness in my heart towards my friend. What a fruitful life in Christ that he lived. My life was just one of many that he touched, I know there are thousands of more stories like mine and it fills my heart with thankfulness. Merwyn is now with our Father in Heaven who is saying to him. "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into my rest". I know I will one day be reunited to worship our God together along with all those who believe for eternity.

That is the way I saw it.

Dick Trail

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  • Good job Dick you should be proud!

    -- Posted by greb on Sun, Feb 3, 2019, at 8:03 PM
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