Fifteen years ago I had one of the most surreal moments of my life. It happened because a friend of mine had died of a brain aneurysm the week before. We played basketball together on a Friday. He was gone early the next week. His name was Kevin.
There were hundreds of stunned people sitting in the crowd at his funeral, anxiously waiting to see what would be shared. Then a memorial photo slideshow played, with an old Pine Cove CD playing in the background. I had sung lead vocal on that CD.
Kevin had worked at Pine Cove, just like I had. God had shaped his life and his ministry through various people over the years at camp. Needless to say, at this funeral were scores of pictures of college staff that had worked alongside him that summer.
So there I sat, listening to my voice sing worship songs over people, watching a photo slideshow of a Pine Cove staff person, reading and hearing about a guy named Kevin that people so dearly loved.
Surreal.
Some of our biggest lessons learned come from stopping, thinking and reflecting. Stopping. Thinking. Reflecting. A pastor friend of mine said he loved speaking at weddings and funerals because peoples’ heart were tender. I believe it.
(If you can’t see the video above, click here to watch it.)
Kristi’s Story:
The slide show above is about a girl named Kristi. It is her memorial video they made to show at her funeral. I don’t know her, but her life has inspired me. She and her husband, Justin, had two adopted boys. They were very active in Young Life, sharing the love of Jesus with high school students.
After a battle with some medical illnesses, she passed away just a couple of weeks ago on August 12, 2012.
Her slideshow hit very close to home for some reason. I don’t know if it’s because of the joy in her smile that reminded me of my wife’s, or because of the ages of her boys. There is something about being reminded that life on earth ends at some point that gets my attention.
Please pray for Justin and their two boys. The transition they have been going through is extremely difficult.
Elizabeth’s Story:
I heard recently of another tragedy. It was of a young mother involved in a car accident. She, her sons, and her unborn baby all died in the wreck one morning just a few weeks ago. Her husband wasn’t with them at the time of the accident.
Since the day I heard about this, I have prayed for the surviving husband and their families many times. I can’t imagine the pain, the feelings of loss, or just the dramatic shift in his life.
The mom, Elizabeth, was a Godly woman. She loved her husband and her kids in a way that expressed the love of her Father.
Please pray for her husband, Samuel. I am beyond words when I think about where his heart has been over the past month.
Final Thoughts:
When I saw this memorial video my mind raced. What does the future hold for my family? How many days do I have left on this earth with them? Will I have any regrets when they are gone?
We can get so caught up in the day to day that we forget we are spiritual people. Instead, we live lives distracted, focusing on the things that won’t last.
Are you fulfilling God’s calling on your life? Are you being the mother or father you earnestly want to be? How are you loving your kids? How are you loving your spouse? How are you expressing the love of your Father to this lost and hurting world?
I’d encourage you to watch the memorial video above and let your heart reflect.
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4
Love it even though its sad it makes you stop and think about life. Thank you I needed that!
I did too.
Glad it caused you to stop and think.
Thank you, for your time to allow others to stop and think about what really matters. God bless
You are so welcome.
Thanks for this post. I enjoy following your blog. If we’re talking about the same Kevin, I worked at the Towers with him and we were both helping out there the weekend before he passed away…something I will never forget (along with his funeral). He was a great guy and servant of the Lord. It’s an encouragement to read how the Lord is leading you and your family.
Ashley (FoPa) – sure am enjoying having Lance and Mandy minutes away from me
Great to hear from you, Ashley.
Yes, that is the same Kevin. I couldn’t remember his last name, but it would have been around the same time you were there.
He was a good man.
Thank you so much for the reminder at how precious life is and how we have an opportunity every moment to reflect Him to those who are around us. As a wife and mother of three I am constantly working through how to be a loving and Godly example in their lives. There are many times that I fail and spend too much time on focusing on things that don’t matter, but I am grateful that each day is a new day and a new opportunity to live my life the way Christ is calling me to.
After going to a funeral a few months back for a dear friend of mine it got me thinking about leaving a legacy. This 93 year old woman lived a legacy. There were so many people there sharing how she led them to the Lord, how she taught them in Sunday school, how she prayed with them and for them….It got me thinking and wondering how my memorial service would be one day? Would there be people there saying “I saw Christ through her” or “She led me to the Lord”?
There’s a song by Nichole Nordeman called “Legacy” and the chorus sums it up for me right now:
“I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy”
I guess if we were to take some common world wisdom of “beginning with the end in mind,” it would really impact the choices we make.
Yes, great song by Nichole Nordeman. I think of Psalm 112:1-2:
“Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.”