2006年10月10日凌晨4點鐘，Dale R. Ward，平安地斷了氣，離開了這世界。出生於1944年， Dale Ward 是生命之光廣播電台的節目部經理。他不但是我的老闆，他也是我的朋友和老師。
在這裡“老師”一詞有很特別的意思。Dale沒有在課堂上教過我數學或歷史，但是他在醫院裡，躺在床上，不能起來的時候，教導我很多事情。
在還沒有把我的意思講明以前，我先說另外一句。生命之光廣播電台是一群基督徒組成的，工作人員都是基督徒，經費依靠基督徒捐款。但是，您—我們忠心的聽眾—心理想要知道的不是廣播電台的來源，乃是基督教的真實性，對不對？也許您時常想要知道，基督教實用不實用？
譬如，基督徒面對死亡時，基督耶穌的教導和真理能不能讓一位基督徒面對死亡而不絕望，不害怕？基督教的價值在此就出現。一名基督徒最後一個月，最後一天，最後一小時，最後一分鐘，他的信仰使得他平安的過世呢，或讓他很孤獨，很害怕地面對死亡呢？一個人臨終的話時常讓親朋好友看透他的心理，知道他內心深處如何，得知真正的他是什麼樣子。
Dale在醫院養病時，他的“真人”就出現了。頭幾天大夫、家人、朋友和同事都告訴他不久以後他會康復，出院回家。Dale的反應很好，他聽得很高興。
但，不久以後，大夫的話有所改變。大夫說，你需要很長的時間才會回到工作單位；Dale一樣接受了大夫的話，說，好，慢慢來吧。
再過一兩個星期，大夫告訴Dale的妻子說，我們所能做的，我們已經做了；能給的治療，我們給過了。能吃的葯，Dale已經吃了。醫學界到此就束手無策了。您心裡要做準備，不久以後，您的丈夫就要去世。
Dale的太太Pat和大夫兩個人一塊兒把這個壞消息告訴Dale。Dale的反應如何呢？當然，他很難過，但是Dale沒有埋怨、沒有生氣、沒有說出髒話、罵人話等。Dale問大夫說，我還有幾天呢？大夫回答的很誠實，說，我們把你現在用的葯—多巴胺—dopamine停掉以後，大概48個小時，您就會斷氣。連這句話Dale都接受了。但是他告訴大夫說，我有一些家人，朋友，同事，我需要跟他們告別。請你讓我繼續用多巴胺維持生命幾天，好嗎？大夫答應了。
這個時候，Dale的基督徒朋友，他的家人和生命之廣播電台的同仁天天都為他禱告。教會的弟兄姐妹為他禱告。美國阿肯色州哈丁基督教大學的學生為Dale祈禱。參加德州艾伯林基督教大學年會的人也為Dale禱告。連Dale在國外的朋友為他禱告。
Dale請他太太轉告我們生命之光廣播電台的同仁，他希望能夠再一次見我們，就請我們一個一個的前往醫院看望他。每一個同仁進去病房時，沒有見到一張愁苦的臉，沒有遇見一個對生命絕望的人，沒有看見一個怨天尤人的人。相反，我們遇見一位心裡平安，頭腦清楚的人。
我們去醫院是要安慰、鼓勵、支持我們的老闆和朋友，但是沒想到！得到安慰、鼓勵和支持的不是Dale，乃是我們自己！Dale一個一個的告訴我們他為我們多年的友誼感謝天上的神，他說他感謝我們對生命之光廣播電台的貢獻，他還鼓勵我們要繼續地盡到本份製作最好的廣播節目。Dale還祈求天上的神賜福給我們每一位。
在這難過的時候，在面對死亡之刻，Dale能夠說這些話，能夠想到別人，Dale真是我的老師。
交待完了臨終的話以後，Dale告訴他家人和大夫們他們可以停掉多巴胺。之後，Dale就把自己交託給上帝。
果呢？上帝垂聽了多人的禱告，沒有讓Dale馬上就斷氣。雖然大夫們說也許他只會活兩天，神讓他多活三個星期！頭腦也很清楚。最後，2006年，10月10日，Dale的生命就結束了，他的靈魂歸回創造宇宙萬人的主。
生命之光的同仁都懷念這位偉人，我們的同事、朋友和老闆，Dale Ward。
我呢？我懷念我的老師。
Memories of Dale Ward /04:
Teacher in the Hospital
Dale R. Ward passed from this life at 4:00 a.m. on October 10, 2006. Born in 1944, Dale was the Executive Director of World Christian Broadcasting. Not only was he my boss, he was also my friend and my teacher.
When I say that Dale was my teacher, I use the term in a very special way. It wasn’t in a history or math class, but rather in the hospital, with Dale flat on his back and unable to get out of bed, that he taught me much.
Before I explain, let me tell you some other things. World Christian Broadcasting and radio station KNLS were established by a group of Christians. Those who work for KNLS are Christians, and the financial support for the radio station comes from Christians. I think, however, that you—our faithful listener—aren’t as interested in the background of this Christian radio station as you are in knowing whether Christianity is true or not. Does it work in life? Isn’t this what you’re thinking?
For example, when a Christian is about to die, do the teachings of Jesus Christ enable him to face death with conviction and without fear? It’s in the face of death that one can know whether Christianity is worth anything or not. Does a Christian’s faith sustain him during his final month, final day, final hour and final minute, and enable him to pass into eternity in peace? Or does he feel alone and scared to face death? A person’s final words often enable his family and friends to see deeply into his heart; the kind of person one really is becomes evident on one’s deathbed.
Dale’s “true self” became obvious while he was in the hospital. During the first several days there, physician, family, friends and co-workers all told him that he would be better soon, and would be able to return home and return to work. Dale’s reaction to this was very positive.
Before long, however, the doctor changed her mind, and told Dale that he would need a very long recovery time before he could return to the office. Dale accepted this conclusion also, and said that he would take things one day at a time.
One or two weeks later, however, the physician told Dale’s wife, Pat, that she and the other doctors had done everything they could, that they had given Dale all the treatment and medication that was available. “There’s nothing left that the medical field can do for Dale,” she was told. “You should prepare yourself, because your husband cannot last much longer,” the doctor said.
Pat and the physician talked to Dale together and broke this tragic news to him. How did Dale react? Yes, of course he was sad, but Dale did not complain, he was not angry; he did not use profanity or blame anyone. He asked the physician how long he had, and the physician replied honestly. “After we turn off the dopamine IV drip, you’ll have about 48 hours.” Even this sentence Dale received in peace. Dale told the doctor that there were several family members, friends and co-workers to whom he wanted to say Goodbye. “May I use the dopamine a few more days?” The doctor agreed.
All during this time, Dale’s Christian friends, his family members and the staff of World Christian Broadcasting were all praying for him. The Christians where Dale had his church membership were praying for him. Students in Harding University in Arkansas were praying for him. People attending the annual Lectureship at Abilene Christian University in Texas were praying for him. Even his friends who lived in foreign countries were praying for Dale.
Dale told his wife to tell his co-workers at World Christian Broadcasting that he wanted to see them one more time. He said to tell us that he welcomed us to come to the hospital one-by-one and visit him. When we entered the room, we didn’t see an ugly frown, we didn’t see someone who had lost all hope, and we didn’t see someone who blamed God or man for his problems. No, no. Rather, we saw someone whose heart was at peace and whose mind was clear.
Yes, we went to the hospital to comfort, encourage and support our boss and our friend, but we had no idea that it wasn’t Dale who would be comforted, encouraged and supported. No! Instead, we received these things—from Dale! One-by-one, Dale told us how thankful to God he was for our friendship. He expressed appreciation to each of us for our contributions to World Christian Broadcasting, and he encouraged us to continue to work faithfully, and produce the very best programs that we could. Dale also asked God to bless each of us.
Under such circumstances, as Dale faced death, for him to be able to say the things that he did, and to think of others, he indeed was my teacher.
After Dale had expressed his final thoughts to the people he had worked with everyday, he then told his wife and the doctors that they could turn off the dopamine IV drip. Then Dale put himself into the hands of God.
What happened? God granted the prayers of many people and did not let Dale’s life end so soon. Although the physicians had said that Dale would continue to breathe for a couple of days after the medication was stopped, God enabled Dale to live for three more weeks! Even his mind stayed clear.
Finally, however, on October 10, 2006, Dale’s life came to an end, and his soul returned to the Creator of the universe and of all mankind.
The employees of World Christian Broadcasting remember this great man—our co-worker, friend and boss, Dale Ward.
Me? I remember my teacher.
懷念Dale Ward （四）: 在醫院的祝福
Memories of Dale Ward /04: Teacher in the Hospital
作者：謝德華 By Edward Short
©World Christian Broadcasting
Franklin, Tennessee 37067