Hello and Welcome to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you stopped by to visit with me. Around noon today I received a call from the pastor of the church that I am attending. As we began our conversation I could tell that he was not himself. I asked what was going on and he then disclosed to me that a good friend of mine and a member of the church died suddenly yesterday morning — December 8 — of a massive heart attack.
I was both shocked and saddened by the news of my friend Dave’s passing. I had just spoken with him this past Friday December 5 and he was very much alive.
As the day has turned to-night I still am having a difficult time believing that I will no longer be able to see, speak to or spend time with Dave. I am thankful that I will have the opportunity to say good-bye to Dave tomorrow evening at his visitation. Although he died on Monday he will not be forgotten. His legacy of kindness will live on in the lives that he touched. I am very fortunate to have been one of the lives touched by the light of his life. Thank you Dave!
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother Teresa
The passing of my friend Dave’s life reminds me of a reality. We are here but for a moment in time and then like a flash of lightning we will be gone forever. To some our lives may only be noted by 8 simple numbers and a single dash. When we were born and when we died. Life, death and the in between time. But for Dave, his life will be remembered because of the way he choose to use his life in the in between time. Dave was a servant and he sought to be of maximum service to God and to his fellows.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”.
Erma Bombeck
The passing of my friend — who was 3 years older than I am — reminds me that my dash could close at any time. Consequently, I am encouraged to live — as Dave lived — to make the best use of my in between time. Dave lived to use — his in between time — to bring hope and to inspire people to be free, free in their body, free in their soul and free in their spirit. Consequently, Dave’s dash will live on in the lives that he inspired. May I be able to follow in my friend’s foot steps and leave a legacy of grace and hope.
Thank you Dave for being my friend and Godspeed to you!
Craig
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