Uncle Tom

Open in Prayer inviting God’s presence for the comfort of those who mourn and to turn our mourning into gladness as we remember Tom Cinkovich.

Son of immigrants looking for a better life in America. Born about two years after the death of what would have been his big brother (from the swine flu of 1917), Uncle Tom became everyone’s big brother. He lived that role until his passing.

I look at our little grandson Hunter boy and can only imagine the pain the young Mitzi Cinkovich must have experienced as Little Louie was laid to rest under that gravestone in Enumclaw. We can’t begin to know what she felt when she realized a baby was once again growing in her womb.

Tom would become a child of hope and redemption. Healing balm for his mother’s broken heart. Can you imagine the joy that accompanied his birth? And to be kind, as tough as Grandpa Louie could be, I remember his joy with all the babies. Maybe someone here knows has heard of the celebration that accompanied Tom’s birth?

Do you think that young Yugoslavian American mother was careful with this new baby and understood just how precious his life was? I’m sure, like all parents, she imagined what his life might be like.

We are here to commemorate what Grandma Mitzi imagined 89 years ago.

We are here to honor Uncle Tom. And in that remembering to nail down in our lives those things we share in our genetics and bloodline.

To set in place those God given characteristics meant to lead and guide our family and those yet to be born in the way they should go. We are to break any chains of bondage and see our children, their children and their children’s children set free to live life as God intended. In liberty, restraining those who would prey on the weak, lifting up those too weak to stand, protecting the innocent and fulfilling what is good and right as followers of Jesus, the Christ.

Let us begin now…
Kneel with me in prayer…let’s recite the Our Father, just like we all memorized it in catechism classes.

Most of us know that prayer by heart in the Catholic tradition because Grandma Mitzi asked all her children to see that her grandchildren were baptized, trained and confirmed. She understood that life is precious, fragile and sometimes very short. She understood the goal of catechism and confirmation was an understanding of the redemption found in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ leading into salvation for each and every one of us by His blood. It was her best and only hope for seeing all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the afterlife of Heaven and not in the eternal sorrows of hell.

I pray she is rejoicing with Little Louie, Tom, Louise, Mark, Betty and Walt as they live in the perfection of Heaven.

In so many ways Uncle Tom fulfilled the role of a big brother and lived as the firstborn though actually second.

He was a natural boss and I bet he was a great one. Those of you who worked for him surely can tell us later.

Some, like my Mom and Dad, he led to the wilds of Alaska to work a coal mine about 20 miles west of mount McKinley, or Denali, as it is known today. Geno was born there.

He was looking for ways to lift us and bring us all along to improve ourselves and our situations in life. And always with adventure in the work. I wish I had learned the lesson quicker. I believe so much of what Uncle Tom lived was a life of adventurous work. Always work.

King Solomon wrote:
Eccl 7:1-3 (NET)
A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

Eccl 7:8 (NET)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.

Ps 116:15 (ESV)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

***SONG***

Now is a time to remember.

We can’t tell of all the details of his life, but when you think of Tom what words come to mind?

·         Adventurer

·         Pilot

·         Builder

·         Boss

·         Godfather

·         Big Lincoln

***SHARING***

Isa 50:5-9 (ESV)
5. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.
6. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
7.Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
8.He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!
9.It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.

I was thinking of this section of scripture to describe the strength of Uncle Tom as I saw him and as I believe other people see many of us. “I have set my face like flint and I know that I will not be put to shame…”

We are to set our face like flint on eternity, deterred by nothing, and trust and rely on Jesus to deliver us to His appointed end.

Don’t you believe Uncle Tom did this to the very end? I saw him a year ago and after a delightful visit with him, Mark and Liane, and Stephanie, Tracy and Tommy I was thinking about why I liked Uncle Tom so much.

Boiled down, I think it was his mindset of always moving forward, assuming the best outcome and working hard to see it happen. Mark and Liane built a great living space for him. He had a huge HD TV on the wall, a brand new Lincoln and that same sense of advance, or forward motion into what was new and better. He wasn’t looking for the good old days; he was looking for the best today and a better tomorrow.

***SONG***

Uncle Tom was all about family and work and living large while accomplishing both. I think those Christmas Eve parties on Vashon Island cemented family for all us cousins. We’re doing pretty well with the Family Reunion and Christmas Eve, but we need something more for all these young relatives to understand who they are to be and how their bloodline matters.

Uncle Tom understood that he and his brothers and sisters stood for something. He was after the best.

How did a bunch of big, strong, tough young men grow into the fine old men we know or knew as Uncle Tom, Uncle Gene, Uncle Gary and Uncle Walt? Wouldn’t you love to have known Uncle Mark, Cousin Mark?

·         They were kind.

·         They never took advantage of anyone.

·         They stood up for the guy who couldn’t stand up for himself.

·         They befriended those who needed a friend.

·         They served others with no sense of entitlement in return.

o   How many times has one or more of them dropped what they were doing to help one of us?

·         They worked hard without complaint.

·         They were all known for being great at what they did.

·         They loved their wives and their families, even when some of us weren’t very lovable.

·         Although I never heard any of them say it to the other, I believe they genuinely loved one another as only men and brothers can.  (It would have been OK to have said it.)

Uncle Tom, and none of the others, would write this list or think for a minute to draw attention to themselves, that is why I’m doing it today. The list could be longer couldn’t it?

How do we measure up to that list? That list is part of our bloodline. The Bible tells us that our life is found in our blood. It is not a coincidence that we were born into this family. God has a divine plan and you and I are part of it. Uncle Tom and his brothers didn’t need the list, it flowed through their veins. It must also flow through ours.

That list sounds a little like this one found again in Isaiah Chapter 58:

• 6. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
• 7. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Mark and I talked of being light and short here today. I am ready to go on, but I won’t.

So I come back to the beginning to close today.

How do you think his mother would greet him in Heaven? Would he have fulfilled the desires that filled her imagination almost 90 years ago? Would he have the character and heart to be a great son, husband, father, brother and friend? Would he have made her proud to be his mother? You better believe it!

Uncle Tom had a word that I always loved to hear him say because it was simple and it expressed approval, goodness and excitement in the way he said it. Anyone already know the word I’m talking about? That simple one word response that said so much? It was GREAT!

Today is a sad day because we will miss him. But it is also a great day as we remember a great man whose blood has stopped flowing, but the bloodline continues in us. It reflects the desire of God that we share in the life of Christ through the shedding of His blood that we may live the life He intends for us as a part of Jesus’ bloodline through the redemptive work of the Cross.

At the end of life, we want to hear Jesus say, “Well down thou good and faithful servant.” And like Uncle Tom might respond, I want to say with a heartfelt, thankful - GREAT!

Let’s pray.

Father God our Creator and Redeemer,
by your power Christ conquered death
and entered into glory.
Confident in His victory
and claiming His promises,
we entrust and commend Thomas Louis Cinkovich to your mercy
in the name of Jesus our Lord,
who died and is alive
and reigns with you,
now and forever. 

Amen.  It would be a great thing to talk about Uncle Tom a lot as we go eat. Please ask questions and give detailed answers.

And now
Num 6:24-27 (ESV)

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his face upon you and give you peace.
“So shall they put my name upon the children of Isreal (Cinkovich family line), and I will bless them.”