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During the memorial service of all the faithful departed and in the middle of the liturgy of the hours, the priest gave a reflection and then invited all who were willing to share a story of a departed loved one and then proceed to light a candle in their memory. As the people tricked down to the microphone and shared their stories and lit candles, I knew it was time to honor a dear friend. So I followed suit and after briefly sharing my story, I lit the candle in his honor and went back to my sit. But my memories took me back.
5 years ago, I stood in the porch of my dear friend Doug, looking into the woods and believing that he would be approaching down the driveway anytime. I stared into the deep for a good while until I realized that he wasn't coming and he would never drive down that driveway again and then my tears flowed down my cheeks like a flood. Yes indeed, the story was true that he had been killed in a car accident the night before by a drunk driver who was driving on the wrong side of the highway just a few miles from his home. The joy that his wife and kids had felt when he called them and told them he was on the way home from a business trip turned into sorrow and grief for them and so many others. That evening after realizing that he wasn't coming, A deep sorrow cut into my soul as I remembered his family all too young to loose a husband and a dad. After a few hours as we were leaving the house which was filled with people, I still continued to think that soon, I would receive the news that this was a big confusion, but that never happened. The next few days I grieved in such a manner that up until this time in my life I had never done. but why? Was it because before this I was used to loosing loved ones to sicknesses that lasted a long time preparing me for their departure while for my friend, death refused to knock at the door and just came rushing in disregarding everyone who would be left? Is this the reason my heart was so broken? While that could be a legitimate reason, my answer lays in how God had used this friend to touch my soul. While indeed I have many a great influences in my life, this influence was different. His love for God and the testimony of his life had left deep imprints in my soul at a fragile time in my life, and I was feeling an acute pain of separation as did many other persons that had known this man of God.
Tonight on this All Souls Day feast, as I lit that candle in honor of Doug, I knew that although many people have fallen, this friend of mine had fell right into the arms of Jesus whom he loved so much. This comforted me greatly and although I still am sorrowed for the pain that his family still undergoes, I lifted them up to the throne of God who is their comfort and commended them to the prayers of their husband and father, son and son in law.
Yes indeed this is the story of many, but for our departed loved ones, the story is unique. While I have shed many a tears while reading the lives of great saints like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Padre Pio, Blessed Mother Theresa of Culcutta and our beloved late Pope Blessed John Paul II, it's the encounter with people like Doug who made a great impact in my life that reminds me that often, God sends into our lives people who are not only saintly but who can inspire us to become saints ourselves. This is what Doug did for me and even now does through all the memories that never left. We met in business Doug, but we remain united from our shared love of Our Lord Jesus Christ and while the earlier may fade, the later is everlasting.
To Doug, all my loved ones who have died and all the faithful departed, God grant them eternal rest and may Your perpetual light shine upon them. And to those of us who are left, Guide us through the darkness of grief and bring us safely to your heavenly kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
