Passing

Today, another kid my age passed away.

It is a little ridiculous. Two friends of friends have passed away this month. Both were young men who had not yet experienced all the great things life can offer. Both were taken from this world, in their own way, much earlier than any of us are used to, and who any of us want for them.
I didn't know either of them well, though I went to high school with one of them, but I feel such a great sadness for them and their families right now. They were in the prime of their youth, with life ahead of them, and now they are gone.

But at the same time, the fact that I am not close to them, allows me another perspective on their passing. While so many close to Scott and Kevin are in serious mourning right now, I feel like God only allows things like this to happen when it is best. To us, death is the end of life, a life on this earth. It is a very sad thing, because we will never experience anything with that person again. But to God, death is the beginning of Eternal life with Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, I not only think God allows these things to happen, but I feel like God may call for their joining him in heaven. Like he almost needs them, and his meeting with them cannot wait any longer. This is just an idea, but maybe this material, Earthly life is just a chance for us to do a little good here, among our fellow man, until God can no longer go without your presence in heaven. When the time comes, death may come upon us, and we shouldn't necessarily think of it as an end. It is a beginning. A beginning of something we cannot as humans comprehend.

I apologize if it is a little early to ponder these things, and I do not mean to be insensitive to those deeply mourning their losses. We are humans, and just because God may be calling for them in heaven, doesn't make it any easier for us to say goodbye to them. That doesn't have to change, if it ever could. But I pray that those who are hurt the most by the losses of these two great guys take comfort in knowing that God could no longer delay their role in heaven any longer. They are truly in a better place right now, as hard as it is for us to let them go.

I also pray that each of us, but me especially, can learn to appreciate life here on Earth while we can. I feel so careless in the way I treat myself physically, like I am walking a thin line of non-gratitude for what God has given me. I cannot help but feel ashamed of how I spend my time on this earth and how I treat myself, when someone like Kevin or Scott, are no longer with us here. How ungrateful am I? I of course am grateful, but I just am not acting much like it right now. Its times like these that you really remember what is important, and gives you a better perspective on life.

For these things I pray, Lord, God Almighty.