Go Rest High

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says, ~To every thing there is a reason and time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck that which is planted.~ Without a doubt, there are two things we know for certain and that we live and die. Most certainly, we all have the living part down pat, but when it comes to death nobody can ever really be prepared to hear or witness someone who you know, care about, and/or love pass away. For the things that go in between birth and death is what each of us make of it as the decisions/choices one makes will inevitably have you be remembered either in a good or bad way.

For some, most, or all people the good times rather than the bad times are essentially remembered for someone who was part of your life either on a personal or professional level. Depending on the particular person's situation, one should always reflect on the positives, which keeps not only you smiling but also everybody around you smiling as well. Although it's a time of sadness, it's a time of celebration as well for that person who enjoyed life with a passion with the people he or she cared about and loved. We've all been in this particular situation and it unfortunately doesn't get any easier as time goes on, but as the saying goes you keep on keepin' on the best you can.

If you think about it, the one question that tends to get asked over and over again is why? Why him/her? It truly is hard to rationalize why good people are taken away too soon and in the prime of his or her life no less. When it pertains to that person, it is oftentimes a difficult situation to try to change a certain routine that involves him or her such as saying high to each other in passing or whatever the case may be for you. Yet, one eventually accepts the fact that the person who you either woke up next to, see everyday at work, were classmates with, were best friends with, etc. is no longer there in the physical sense, but is absolutely with you in the spiritual sense.

As I've said before in the past, you form attachments to the kids in the asylum who you spend almost every day around. Over the past 10 years, I've been privileged enough to see many kids grow up before my eyes and it’s within those 10 years several kids have passed away. For me personally, even though they aren't your kids you feel like you are and hearing that type of news can affect you in some way, shape or form. For it's tough to handle and yet it's doubly tough when you have to tell his or her friends that their friend is gone. Let me tell you something, after 10 years whether its a child or even the parent of the child, it increasingly becomes harder rather than easier to handle because of the bond that has been established.

About 2 weeks ago, one of "my kid's" parents, who I've known for several years passed away due to breast cancer, which she successfully beat. What made it so tough to hear that news, which shocked not only me but also my best friends, was that we both saw her the previous week at a local popular eating establishment and she was happy as can be. In any case, we learned that she didn't suffer as she passed on in her sleep and as I stood a couple of feet away to pay my respects, I said to her you can now go rest high on that mountain where the Lord Jesus Christ has already welcomed you with open arms. A song that best reflects this thought is Go Rest High by Vince Gill.