April 20, 2011

Today was one of those days when you wake up (after not sleeping well) and remember that you have to be in a mode of work (because you have a big meeting), even though you know that in a few short hours you will be spending time saying your last goodbyes to a friend who passed on to be with his Lord at the early age of 34.....

Today I attended a funeral like no other I had ever been to. Every funeral, since my dad's I cry no matter who the person is, if I've known them or not, I shed tears because I remember the day that I had to say goodbye to my dad... and that will be a memory that is embedded in my head for the rest of my life.

Today's funeral was for a high school friend, he actually graduated with Paul, but he was a dear friend to me in high school. He coaxed me over and over to attend Young Life, and come to find out he was still coaxing anyone and everyone he could to follow God up until the day he died. I hadn't talked to him in many years, probably since high school, or shortly after that at least, but I will never forget his bold and powerful, crazy and funny, honest and fair, friendly and loving personality. He put a smile on everyone's face and he knew how to be that person that everyone loved. Today, I yet again learned a lesson from him, and though his body is in the earth and I will not be reunited with him until I pass on, his passion for God and the way he lived his life will be a reminder for me to serve the Lord and do right with Him.

Derek with be forever missed by many, but his legacy and his love for life, his love for his family and friends, and his love for his Lord will forever live on through so many people. What an inspiration he was and today's funeral was nothing less than inspirational!