Sidney Sedock

Byron Cemetery

Fairborn, Ohio 45324

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

(prepared by Robert J. Eustace, Beavercreek, Ohio; updated March 11, 2021)

‘Spring season’

Flowers, art on a stem,

Curtsy as graceful servants before a Queen Bee,

And, fix garden paths with enticing smells and vibrant colors.

To which the God of heaven has given to mankind

To mend the savages of bitter times, and,

Provide a scent of hope towards a future glory.

Sid (January 22, 2005)

Bio & Memories:

I met Sid circa 1991, on a mainframe logistics project. Sid stored a trailer at Paul’s Garage on Valley Pike near Harshman Rd. In his trailer I found a bulletin from Coronado Baptist Church, Scottsdale, Arizona (Providentially, we both attended same church, different dates). We kept in touch on and off over the years.

During lunch at Hardee’s on Colonel Glenn, we saw a herd of deer run across the intersection. When I see deer suddenly, I wonder if something special is happening God wants me to be aware of. Later I learned that deer should be special to me…“Saint Eustace” was an early Roman martyr. According to legend, the Roman general Placidus was hunting a stag when an image of Jesus on the cross appeared between the animal's antlers, inspiring him to convert to Christianity and adopt the name Eustace.

Until my freshman year in college, I was a Christian in name only. Growing up Roman Catholic, I worried if I would get to heaven because I could never maintain a holy life. On All Saints Day, November 1, 1977, Earl Close and another student at Arizona State University explained  how I could know Jesus Christ as may personal Savior, and have eternal life.

(Back to Sid) In December 2020, the police knocked on my door and told me Sid passed away in his condo. They found my name and phone number and notified me. They were unable to identify family. I was the only personal contact they had. I asked what would become of him. They said without heirs he will be cremated and his possessions given to the state. So I decided to become executor of his estate and look for heirs. When I searched his apartment, I found he had just finished reading a one year Bible entry, for November 1 (my spiritual birthday).

I pondered whether Sid should be cremated or buried, and asked God for wisdom. The next day I turned on the radio and heard a message from Allistair Begg, On Death and Dying. I had my answer. Cremation can’t prevent resurrection, but burial is the preferred custom for honoring the body. Jesus acknowledged it (Matthew 26:12).

Sid was left at an orphanage by his mother as a child. He could not even remember her. I found evidence that he searched for his ancestors but could not find them. The search continues. I could tell from his poetry that he was lonely and badly wanted to be part of a family.

I also learned that he gave faithfully to charities from his small fixed income, wrote letters to ministries celebrating their success in teaching God’s Word globally. He loved Israel, TBN, and Bible prophecy. He owned several copies of the Bible, read it daily, and studied it in great detail. He was particularly interested in the family trees in Genesis, and build elaborate spreadsheets computing the year of Noah’s Flood, from Adam to Noah, then to Jesus the Messiah.

At his condo I found only one family picture. It was our family. Looks like we are the only family he ever knew. (He also had pictures of George and Barbara Bush, and the hosts of Trinity Broadcasting Network). I love Sid and miss him. I wished I had been a better friend to Sid. “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families” Ps 68:5-6a.

I’m reminded of a quote a godly friend (Joseph Arthungal) repeats occasionally: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” —Etienne de Grellet

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matt 25:40; ***  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 ***

It’s wonderful that there is a heaven, and that God wipes away all our tears. All the sins I, Sid, and every child of God ever did are covered over, paid for by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know I will see Sid again. He believed in Jesus!

Poems:

“My Family Tree” (A Frozen Heart)

My life, like an ice sickle, hangs off my family tree

Left orphaned, as a glacier, away from its cozy breeze.

All childhood visions: that pertained to this noble tree

Drifted, out to nowhere, never to be received.

Wave after wave of more ‘frozen family’ clips

Continue to float out yonder away from my family’s grip.

As a broken limb from off a generational tree

I’ll never tell my stories about my eerie family tree.

By Sid Sedock

April 23, 2006

Hi Jewel,

Please, post this on STGs bulletin board

If winter has given you full remorse,

Then read the following May’s report.

-sent to last company he worked for before retiring; then he added a copy of ‘Spring season’ (cover)

By Family

By family, we bring each other forth in life

By family, we hope to master what is right

By family, our pains are bigger than we know

By family, our hopes are bigger than we show.

By family, all of ours horizons lay ahead

By family, we do not want to forget our dead

By family, we have this precious gift from above

As family, all of us are God’s in love.

Sid Sedock                January 22, 2005

“Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which

is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and

mother.”  Matt: 12-49:50

“Birds”

Birds, investigates our gates all around our homes,

Never trite or vain as they fly to entertain

How they spray our ears with songs as we carelessly walk along

Sid Sedock

3209 Roanoke Ct.

Fairborn, OH 45324

November 8, 2004

Dear “Thru the Bible Radio”

I’m am full of joy after reading your clips of people’s lives as they listen to “Thru the Bible Radio” programs in their native language.  It’s awesome to have the capability to translate into various languages around the world.  Thank you again for keeping me informed on how joyfully this radio program is being received.  God bless everyone involved with “Thru the Bible Radio”.

Your brother in Christ,

Sid Sedock

‘What’s within my heart’                                                                     October 22, 2004

By Sid Sedock

I’ll give wisdom the early hours to set my daily load

I’ll look for it in the holy Bible. I’ll read it to quell my soul.

This book retains all virtues known on earth to be apply

They are the words of God you see, even to the day I die.

Let other books be read also, but they, only, all reflect

What’s on the mind of man to man, and not what’s always best.

When one book retains all virtue known, should it not be read?

And be a guiding light to all, up to the time we go to bed.

‘What’s within my heart’ (continued)

I’ll get all the wisdom that I can get and put them in my heart.

I’ll put them there and keep them there until the day I depart.

And when I get to heaven’s door, will He ask me in?

Then He’ll see what’s in my heart and then He’ll say” ‘Come in.”

“Blessed are they that do his commandments,

that they may have the right to the tree of

life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”   Rev 22, 14