Remembering Ernest

In his poem "Epitaph on a friend", the poet Robert Burns writes:
An honest man here lies at rest,
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
This was my friend and brother Ernest.
We met 30 years ago, for norskkurs in August 1993.
What do I remember?
- How I used to tease him and call him the voice of age and wisdom because he was knowledgeable, wise and calm and prayerful.
- How happy he was after he travelled home to marry his beloved Florence a short time after we settled in Norway. Ernest was my friend, my brother, my deacon at IBC.
- The day my dear sister-in- law Elizabeth died, and Ernest came over to break the news of her passing to me. How he sat with me, prayed with me, shared the Bible, chatted with me and sympathized with me.
- Me asking him many times to combine his studies with the ministry? Telling him Florence would make a perfect Sofomaame – beautiful, wise, and soft-spoken. I can still see him smile.
- In church at IBC one day, I was humming along when the choir was singing something I knew, and he gently and quietly said “You will not enjoy it to the fullest if you sing along. we are meant to listen”. I always stop myself when I am so tempted.
- The prayer and the practical support I got from Ernest especially when I was sick. He never missed an opportunity to pray with me.
- The affection he had for his family – Florence, Nana Kofi and Sharon

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, He’s, their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”
The news of your passing was a terrible blow, leaving us in anguish and in tears.
We Cry, We Weep, We Moan, We Lament!
In our hearts, in our minds, you are forever entrenched.
By His Grace and for His Glory,
Rest in peace Kwadwo Ernest; you leave big marks and a big void ️
Much loved, Deeply missed, Never to be forgotten.
REST WELL! HVIL I FRED! MAY CHOIRS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO THINE REST!

— 26 May, 2023

Rest well EN. Our paths crossed on Legon campus, Norway, University of Oslo, a few hours at the flagstaff house. Little did I know that our chat about how close our hometowns were, would be the last; Asanti Akyim Krofa and Morso. Birthday wishes will never be thesame for us, we will remember you always. We thank God for lending you to us all. Our lives are enriched from getting to know you. Rest well brother. We will make the rest of our time on earth count. We have an angel up there watching over us. Damirifa due!

— 25 May, 2023