I enjoy spotlighting different members of our community who make a difference in our little mountain town.
Many know Gregg Heid from the Pagosa Springs Photography Club, Aspire Group, Wolf Creek Christian Writers’ Network and Pope John Paul ll Catholic Church.
I know Gregg as a writer. He stands tall as a man of God and attributes everything to his faith in the Lord, and his wife, Vicky, who he says has been his rock.
On Sept. 6, 2024, we heard the news that Gregg and Vicky Heid lost their second son. We were shaken to the core. How could anyone bear another tragic loss like this?
Not too many years before, our writers’ group walked with the Heids through the grief of their first son’s death. During that time, I saw a transformation in Gregg. He wrote with a deeper vulnerability and his spirit became more fluid in every word he wrote.
He continued to attend the writers’ group every Monday morning even though we knew he was grieving beyond his understanding. He’s been a true witness of his faith in God’s love and grace in the midst of the tragedy his family has gone through.
The Lord reminded me that Gregg is in His hands and He is doing a mighty work in him. Gregg is God’s poem; only God knows the lyrics He is writing on Gregg’s life. God’s words belong uniquely to Gregg.
The Poet laid his parchment upon the surface of the cloud, took in His hand a lightning bolt, and etched words that rattled the angels of heaven and the people of earth. God dipped the point in the ocean deep and scratched His Spirit words on the poem, giving life to Gregg’s words.
At his son’s memorial service, Gregg spoke from the Poet’s lyrics: “That you; being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19, NKJV).
Gregg rose above his own agony as he stood in the service. I’m sure he would have liked to stay in bed and cry. There was no anger in him. He surrendered to the Lord and allowed God to take a surgical knife and cut away any fleshly desires he felt. He spoke hope to the congregation. God had written Spirit words of thankfulness, peace and honesty on Gregg’s heart.
We heard the width, and length, and depth, and height, wherein Gregg had lived. We understood his Spirit knowledge that had exceeded his understanding. The Poet wrote upon the speaker as he expressed Christ’s love. He took him to the width of the outreach of his life: His length extended to his family — his wife, boys, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, brothers and friends. The height of Christ’s love had taken Gregg to God’s heaven, where he rubbed shoulders with the angels and felt the presence of his Creator.
As Gregg spoke, a strong gush of God’s breath ruffled the parchment and His tears fell upon His poem. In the depth of the Poet’s soul, where deep calls to deep, their tears mingled together, and soaked the speaker’s words.
Gregg answered the depth of the Poet’s call and more words were added to the Poet’s poem.
Gregg and Vicky had placed their only two sons in Jesus’ arms. Jesus’ words comforted them, “They are safe with me now. Rest in Me. You have much work ahead of you. Teach your grandchildren how much I love you and them. I’m still writing upon your heart. You are my prized poem.”
Yes, Gregg’s comprehension of Jesus’ love had no longer passed his knowledge. He understood a bigger story inside of him and one day he must write it.
Gregg is His poem “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV).
Final brushstroke: The Poet has written upon each of our hearts a special and unique message to carry to this dark world. We carry God’s words in our stories, poems and songs as God’s Spirit undergirds His words, even when it’s beyond our understanding.
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Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN.
