Touching Lives

My thoughts this week have pondered the response to Osama Bin Laden's death.  I can remember seeing patients in the hospital that fateful morning nearly ten years ago and seeing the first pictures of the towers in flames.  As I drove to my office I thought of the suffering of those poor people who lost their lives.  Tears streamed down my face as I thought, "who could be so evil that they would consider this to be a just cause?"  Just this week, on NPR's story corp, I listened to the account of a woman who recounted spending the last 30 minutes of her husband's life on the phone with him.  There was no way out.  She longed to climb through the phone line to be with him.  As she heard the avalanche of the tower collapse around him and the deafening silence that followed, she weeped, holding the phone to her heart, repeating his name over and over.  She is just one of many thousands of people that were hurt by Bin Laden's actions.  For their sake, I am glad that justice was served.  That said, I find no cause for celebration, only for somber reflection.

Mr. Mark Wade, Teacher
Parkway South High School

There was another life that ended all too soon this week.  This individual also affected the lives of thousands of people but in a far different way.  My son's math teacher died suddenly of a heart attack on nearly the same day of Bin Laden's death.  Mr. Wade taught for thirty years.  He is beloved by his students and members of the golf team for which he was the coach.  My older daughter commented that he recently stopped her in the hall, calling her by name and asked about her upcoming college choices.  She has not had him as a teacher for three years.  He went beyond teaching just math concepts, he lived kindness.  Though Bin Laden's image graced the front page of the papers, I trust that Mr. Wade's influence will have made a more lasting impression on the lives of those he touched.  I choose to celebrate his life and the way in which he lived.  His goodness is a reflection of God's.  It is by following the example of the Savior in forgiving and cleaving unto goodness that we will find inner peace for our soul and world peace for us all.  From the words of the hymn:

In remembrance
Parkway South High School

Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessing from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,

What greater goodness can we know

Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,

We hold forever in our hearts

A sweet and hallowed memory,

Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

Karen Lynn Davidson,  copyright 1985