Written in memory of our dear friend, Rev. John M. Bell, who passed away on June 5th, 1999
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Last night I watched a ship depart,
As it sailed out to sea.
It took someone I loved away,
Who meant so much to me.

I thought of good times that we’d had
Together on this shore;
Experiences of a true friendship,
That we would share no more.

Sadness filled my aching heart,
Where joy had always been.
I knew that never in this life,
Would I see my friend again.

Then a comfort filled my soul
And I would grieve no more.
What joy my friend would bring to them,
Who wait on that far shore.

I wrote Departure for a wonderful missionary friend, John Bell, when he went home to be with the Lord. Ruth and I spent our honeymoon at his home in beautiful Ikoma, Japan. He and his family have always been dear friends to us. As we get older we see more and more of our friends leave us. I think that it was Mark Twain that said he read the obituary column every morning and was always quite relieved to find that his name wasn’t listed there. Departure is a nice poem to send to friends or relatives who have lost a loved one.It has been printed on the back of numerous funeral programs