Community column -- Jay Grant

Three weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, I flew to the Philippines. I had been invited to hold a leadership conference for

pastors in Dumaguete. A travel alert had been posted for Americans

traveling overseas but I decided to go anyway, feeling confident the Lord

would protect me.

The Philippines is 80 percent Catholic, 15 percent Protestant and 5

percent Muslim. The most extreme, radical Muslims live in southern

Mindanao. Fortunately, I was speaking in northern Mindanao. But the

danger was real. I was not allowed to eat out. I could not walk the

streets at night. Resorts were closed or boarded up. Tourism had been

ruined by the threat of terrorists.

What I remember most about that week on Mindanao was the kindness,

graciousness and generosity of pastor Philip Gonzales and his wife

Jemima. They invited me into their home every evening for dinner. I

marveled at the love and respect they possessed for one another. Their

kids were extremely polite and well behaved. Their home exuded an

atmosphere of warmth and peace. I felt completely comfortable and content

when I was in their presence.

When thinking about Chuck and Barbara Geiger, I keep reflecting on my

friends in Mindanao. For you see, whenever I was around Chuck and

Barbara, I had the same feeling. They were warm, caring and generous and

you felt good just to be around them. The Geigers were the kind of people

that made you happy to be living in Laguna, just an extraordinary couple

who graced so many of our lives.

When I heard Chuck had suddenly passed on recently I was saddened

deeply for the loss Barbara and her two boys, Jason and Johnny, had

suffered. No man or husband is perfect but Chuck seemed to possess

everything good God intended to be in a man. He was just a tremendous

human being.

My friend Michael Hallinan shared this story about Chuck when we had

coffee at Hidleberg’s recently. Michael has lived in Laguna for 30 years

and is one of Laguna’s premier painters. He committed his life to Christ

a couple of years back and was tremendously excited about becoming a

Christian. There’s no joy quite as exhilarating as discovering the love

and grace of God for the very first time.

But church is a different story for the new believer. Walking into a

service can be daunting. You’re feeling a little awkward, not sure what

to expect. You look for a familiar face but don’t see one. Michael was

feeling like that when Chuck walked up, introduced himself, told Michael

how much he enjoyed his art, and warmly welcomed him to the church.

Michael said Chuck made him feel completely at home.

Another friend, Marlene Belloni said: “Chuck Geiger was a lovely man.

He was sweet, good-hearted and loved his family. He was very, very

special.”

A committed husband, father and believer in Christ, Chuck ushered at

Calvary Chapel in Laguna for a number of years. His younger boy Johnny,

who is now a Laguna Beach lifeguard, played for the SportsWorld Little

League team with my son Micah. I have a picture on my wall of Micah

pitching and Johnny in the background. Barbara served as team mom and was

also a Little League board member.

The Geigers, Grants and other parents would sit in the Riddle Field

stands on cool spring nights watching our kids play ball. Back then, I

used to think the most important thing was whether we won or lost or if

the umpire was squeezing the strike zone when Micah pitched.

Now, however, I realize just being together as families, in a

community we all loved so much, was most important. The laughter, rooting

for each other’s kids, sharing potlucks and just sitting together in

support of our children was the best. And the Geigers helped make that

year of youth baseball truly memorable for me.

I will remember Chuck as one of the friendliest people in Laguna, good

natured, kind and a tremendous family man. Heaven is certainly richer

with Chuck there, but we are much poorer to have lost such a wonderful

human being.

* Jay Grant usually writes Lifting the Veil for the Coastline Pilot’s

Faith page. This week he has written a community column to remember Chuck

Geiger. Grant can be reached at P.O. Box 391, Laguna Beach, CA 92652 or

by e-mail: nikkinjay@cox.net.