Requiem for a Friend

Your name crossed my lips today. I caught myself before uttering it loud enough for most of the team to hear. But, I know at least a couple of people noticed it. I suppose it is to be expected doing something you did so many Sunday mornings. You would have been sitting behind the piano though. Me? I sat upstairs behind the sound board, talking to the band through the in-ear system through a small microphone clipped to my shirt. Sitting there, I couldn’t help thinking of you, my friend, and how much you are missed.

I’m not sure we’ve recovered from your sudden departure. It’s hard to wrap my mind around. And my heart certainly hasn’t caught up. When you asked me to covenant in prayer with you those few months before He called you home, I had no idea. Neither of us did. Who knew our day of deepest sorrow and  your day of greatest joy were right around the corner?

Sometimes I hear your voice as I walk down the hallways of the church. Other times, I imagine seeing your bright smile. You brought joy to so many. It’s hard to grasp how your family is handling your absence. They are strong, rooted in the faith you modeled. You would be proud of them. Your amazing legacy lives on through the people whose hearts you touched.

You spoke truth, but always in love. You lived a lifestyle of prayer and worship. The light of Jesus shone brightly through you each day you walked this Earth, regardless of any hardship or trouble you faced. You were a faithful soldier, boldly sharing the Gospel, not only through your words, but through your actions.

“Remember,” you said, “you’re either pointing people to Christ or pushing them away. We show them Jesus by the words we speak and the works we do.”

Oh, how you loved Jesus. I cannot help but be sad that you are gone. The Chinese buffet is not the same without you. There’s an emptiness that wasn’t there before. I am a better person due to your brief presence in my life. Know that I am overjoyed for you as you dance in the presence of the Lord. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss you. One day, we will be reunited.

Until then, we’ll continue lifting His name up in song on Sunday morning, pointing people to Jesus.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.