Harry Hanger

Harry went to be with Jesus on Good Friday. His wife, Elaine, sent the following:

Our dear Harry went to be with the Lord in the early morning hours on this Good Friday. He no longer is bound by a body that was broken and a voice that could not speak. One of the last things that he was able to communicate was written last Sunday night using his finger to write on the IPad; he wrote "Great honor to be passing around Easter."

And so he did.

Of the many affinities I have with Harry are that we are of the same generation and that we came to know Jesus when we were young. For some of us, coming to know Jesus in the turbulent 1960s and early 1970s meant sorting through both societal upheaval and religious upheaval. Some of us were shaped by those times in ways that are with us today – we couldn’t help but be shaped and influenced by them.

Harry loved Jesus and the Gospel. He loved sharing the Gospel. He loved being with our Tuesday-morning small group. He had an “ear” for the Gospel; he knew when he was hearing or reading something centered on Christ, and he knew when something was not centered on Jesus Christ. His heart’s desire was that others would know the difference between God’s truth and the lies the world tells us, and in knowing the difference others would come to know Jesus Christ.

Harry had a sharp mind; quick, insightful, rapier. He also had a heart that loved and cared for others.

While Harry and I did not always share the same views on social policy, politics, and how to best view history – our love for Christ and the Gospel and for each other transcended these other things – we knew we could trust each other in “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” – in putting Jesus Christ at the center of life and teaching. Being in a small group with Harry and working through the Scriptures was like two basketball players who instinctively know what the other is thinking and is going to do. There were times when difficult subjects would arise, or someone would make a problematic statement, and Harry and I instinctively played off each other in helping others work through the question at hand. Sometimes he would take the lead, sometimes I would – with the other supporting. If things got especially interesting we’d call or email each other later in the day and replay the game video.

Working through the Bible with Harry has like having a great partner in the weight room.

Because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is reality, and because Jesus Christ lives in His people – the eternal life of Harry Hanger is also reality, a reality that is with me – a reality that is palpable. The only explanation for the way that Harry lived is Jesus Christ – Harry lived seeing the invisible; Harry and Elaine were heirs together of the grace of life.

I am so deeply thankful for Harry…and for Elaine.