Unfortunately this is becoming familiar territory for me, but surviving the loss of a friend can be a difficult process \u2014 my brother-in-law, but more importantly my friend, Joe passed away last evening. This morning I noticed a few things in my office that Joe had given me. Some things had a meaning, but others were things that I was never sure why I received them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It occurs to me that while these things remind me of Joe, they\u2019re really just stuff. But stuff goes away. The fact is that the \u201cstuff\u201d Joe gave me, other than being meaningful to me, is in itself meaningless and ultimately worthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Joe didn\u2019t just leave stuff \u2014 that doesn\u2019t represent Joe\u2019s life. I think maybe the best way to describe it is that he left behind residue. While I was trying to think of a better word, I looked up the definition of residue. One definition said, \u201cthe part that is left after the main part has gone or been taken away.\u201d
So the residue is what sticks or stays. Sometimes you see a glass where the liquid has evaporated away \u2014 it\u2019s hard to remove that residue. It\u2019s like it has become a part of the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The residue of Joe\u2019s life is the impact it had on others, even the change in the world brought about by his very existence. I think all of us that knew him were the glasses that Joe poured his life into. Now that he\u2019s been taken away, his residue remains in our hearts and souls, and will endure in our memories. Joe left an intense and lasting residue with all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never liked the idea of mourning death \u2014 I think it\u2019s much better to celebrate the life. So today, my thoughts are simple \u2014 Joe will be missed. We have all lost a dear friend. Go in peace Joe, you\u2019ve earned your sleep. Until we meed again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Unfortunately this is becoming familiar territory for me, but surviving the loss of a friend can be a difficult process \u2014 my brother-in-law, but more importantly my friend, Joe passed away last evening. This morning I noticed a few things … Continue reading