A friend from college died last Monday. He had cancer. I was on a trip when he succumbed and I did not notice until Friday, the day of his funeral, that he had passed away. He was 4 or 5 years younger than myself and it is very possible that I may have thought that he was too young to die. Today his father shared a link on FB to a post my friend wrote on his blog this past February.
Re-booting This Crazy Life: Too Young to Die
My friend made very good points. I think death is one of the biggest Monday Morning Quarterback issues we have with God, sickness is another. My friends wife shared in her blog few months before her husband died how his cancer led to their eventual reconciliation and remarriage to each other (they had previously been divorced from each other.) Who expects God to use cancer like that?
I had not seen my friend for over 20 years. He had been planning a trip back to our home state and I would have loved an opportunity to see him again. I would also have been very happy if he had not passed while I was on a trip of a lifetime with my son. I also wish that I had one last chance to say goodbye even if was just on FB. However my friend was right, God controls our destinies; He doesn't do it in a way we can fathom, but in a way that is best for us.
My wife, oldest daughter, and myself were some of the last people to see one of my grandmothers before she died. We and my son were one of the last to spend time with my other grandmother at her home before she spent her last few weeks dying in a hospital. My son and I were among the last family members to see my younger brother before he died 5 years ago. If I didn't question God's timing when he allowed me opportunities to connect with family prior to their relatively sudden passings, why should I question him when He does not allow me those opportunities?
Most of all, I miss my friend and am glad for the time we spent together in person 2 decades ago for the past 5 years we spent together electronically.
I owe you a packet of Ramen, Don. I don't think I can bring it to heaven, so I will eat it myself in your memory.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
9 months ago