In Memoriam

This week I got reacquainted with a friend of mine from several years ago. She was in my youth group when I pastored at the Winona Lake Free Methodist Church. Tanya's her name. Anyway, Tanya was always one of my favorite youth group members. I suppose pastors aren't supposed to have people that they like more than others, but it's only natural to be drawn to some, to those who have like personalities, common tastes, similar senses of humor. Tanya was one of the many in my youth group like that for me. In fact if you look at my office door you'll see a name plate that was made out of wood. Tanya made it for me way back in 1994. I always liked it and so I've used it to help people see which is my office as opposed to Pastor Sue's, or Pastor Shawn's, or Pastor Serge's. Long story short, it was really nice to hear from Tanya again after so many years.

But she shared something with me that really made be grieve. Her little sister, Kendra, was in a horrible auto accident this past February. After a lot of prayers, tears, and late night vigils, Tanya and her family removed life support on February 8. Kendra was buried four days later.

Now I obviously knew Kendra, as she was a part of the church along with her sister, brother, and parents. I knew her by knowing Tanya. But I wasn't prepared for how viscerally news of her death would affect me. I was sort of numb for several moments. I couldn't really believe it. So young. So much potential. So tragic.

And as I've processed this news and talked with Tanya a bit more since that first connection, I've come to see that my response is perhaps right in line with what Jesus would have us to do as brothers and sisters in Christ. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Romans 12:9-21, and in those verses, in verse 15 in particular, we read, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

Whereas Kendra's passing doesn't affect me personally all that much, it does deeply affect someone that I consider a friend, and causes me to grieve. To mourn with those who mourn.

So I suppose this morning as I remember Kendra, I'd like to encourage you to remember those you meet each and every day. May each of us as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, each of us as members of the family of God, grow sensitive to those who journey alongside us, and find within our hearts the capacity to cry, to celebrate, to mourn, to dance. May we model community for this world that stresses individualism, and remind all who come home to Christ that they are never alone.