(My dear friend Gil Ramirez passed away in the fall of 2010, after losing his beloved wife Lucy a couple years earlier. I think of them often, especially when I am prayer-walking in or giving someone a tour of our beloved Gardenland/Northgate neighborhood. I wrote this in 2010, and it is appropriate for our call today!)


Gil's Song By Dave Lindner

Gil and Lucy Ramirez loved life! William Wallace from the Braveheart film,
famously said in his Scottish brogue, “Every man dies…not every many truly
lives!” Gil Ramirez lived! He lived life with his eyes, his heart, and his
hands wide open. His life calls us to do the same.


Gil’s eyes were open. He knew what was happening, and he called it like it
is. He and Lucy could sniff out injustice, and they were vocal when they
found it. They were fierce defenders of their beloved neighborhood and the
families of Gardenland/Northgate were their highest priority. They knew
that the world is not the way it is supposed to be, and they were not afraid
to enter into the pain all around them, acknowledge it, and then speak
through the brokenness about the deeper truth of Joy because of God’s
healing work! They both could be really angry at injustice, and right in
the middle of that, their joy shone through! This reminded me of the truth
and beauty of the Psalms, calling us to join the healing work of our King,
who hears our prayers. This is the Psalm I read to Gil last Sunday morning.
He said, “Amen” when I was done. Tuesday evening he was gone. I miss him.


Psalm 4


1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Selah

3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.


Gil was the first person I met in Sacramento. He sat down with me when I
was finishing seminary and visiting the “Natomas” area as a possible place
to plant a new church. He excitedly told me about Gardenland/Northgate,
about the history, the diversity, the troubles, and the amazing families.
He said that they were feeling left behind by the powers that be; that the
energy and interest, the parks and the money, were skipping over the older
neighborhoods and going to North Natomas (along with many new churches). He described how the Gardenland/Northgate Neighborhood Association began when people started calling his old neighborhood part of “Natomas” though Gardenland/Northgate had been around for over 50 years already. He was all for unity, but he didn’t want his vintage homeplace to be absorbed and renamed by someone else. Gil told me that he was known as "Beto" as a kid, but that his name had been changed to "Gil" by an Anglo teacher who couldn't pronounce "Gilberto" en Espanol. Gil knew a lot about identity and dignity; He knew who he was and whose he was. He knew that the people in his forgotten neighborhood, indeed all people, have inherent dignity and resourcefulness because they are created in the image of God, not because of their money or education or political power. His favorite Psalm was Psalm 23, and indeed,
he knew that the Lord is his shepherd.


Psalm 23


A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Lo, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Gil’s heart was open. God used Gil to call me and my family to
Gardenland/Northgate. Gil welcomed me and my call- he was eager to partner
with anyone who wanted to be a part of the neighborhood, and he was
impatient with “practical” considerations that moved people to “easier”
places. Lucy could be even more direct- “Where?” she asked me pointedly
when I told her I was starting a new church. Even though they were devoted
to their Catholic church, they wanted all the help they could get, even from
the new guy from the midwest. “Who cares about us, here? God does. Do
you?” They asked very clearly. I heard them. And they welcomed me. At
Gil’s funeral yesterday his son Paul shared what many considered the one
word best describing Gil’s heart- “Family”. It was heartbreaking to see the
pain of loss in Gil’s family at the graveside, to see his beloved 2 ½ year
old grandson and great-granddaughter putting flowers on the casket and
wondering how/why they couldn’t see Papi again. But they were also a
reminder of the future in which Gil was always investing, loving all the
families of Gardenland/Northgate. Gil had a way of inviting everyone into
his family, (typically giving Lucy all the credit) and I felt that
invitation. He really cared. When I brought him his favorite soup from the
524 Restaurant, he was very sick and did not have much of an appetite; it
was an effort for him to talk, but one of the few things he said to me was,
“How are Susie and the kids?” Gil’s heart had the aroma of Christ.

Gil’s hands were open. He could be stubborn and he could get really pissed
off and undiplomatic. But when it really came down to it, in the end, he
would work with anyone, and he held everything loosely. Gil was loyal and
focused, but never stingy- he Shared! He had no patience for allowing kids
to suffer because of adults’ territorial in-fighting. “What good is winning
longtime feuds and gaining territory when kids’ lives are at stake?” he
would say to me. “Let’s work together!” His call resounds to us throughout
Gardenland/Northgate and every neighborhood today. What do you say? I say
“Let’s do it for Gil, and even more, for the One who made him!”

Yes, Gil knew who he was, and whose he was! The Bible says that now we see dimly, “as in a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face!” Gil is
with Jesus, and now he sees face to face! Let’s honor Gil by putting our
hope in the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep. Let’s open
our eyes, hearts, and hands. Let’s see the brokenness all around us and
care enough to get to work, so that “His Kingdom may come, on earth as it is
in heaven.”

I miss Gil terribly. I didn’t really weep until now as I finish writing
this. God open my eyes, my heart, my hands. God help my life to inspire
others to do the same. How about you, friend? Will you join me?

Go Well,

Dave