Shocking news
This morning, I got news in my email that a friend, and dare I say it? spiritual mentor has passed away.
The unusual thing is that this man lived on the other side of the world from me and we had never met. We'd chatted on Internet discussion boards and he'd given me godly advice when I needed it. I know he and his wife supported me in prayer when I was going through tricky situations.
I'd only "known" him for four months, yet I learnt so much from him in that short period. Being a Christian, I believe that God has a plan for each of our lives... nothing happens by accident. And I know that God brought Tim into my life for a purpose.
It's hard to believe that Tim is no longer here. That if I post something on the board, I won't be able to see an encouraging reply when I check back in a few days. Just like that, hes gone. A million questions run through my mind, chief among them: How? What happened?
His wife posted a notice on the board to let us know that he left this world on Saturday evening, Sept 28. He was 40 years old. I'm thinking, imagine, if she hadn't, we would never have known. We might have continued posting as usual and be met with silence. We might ponder the lack of response, but eventually we'd probably have drifted off elsewhere without a second thought, and relegated the whole thing to the back of our minds. Scary thought.
It seems a trite thing to say, but Tim enriched my life. I think I am a better person for having known him, however briefly. And to think that I might not have had the chance to mourn his passing, to know that I'll never have the chance to "speak" with him again this side of heaven, to rejoice that he's now with God, no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4)... it just shakes me.