Lessons from Death: It's who you know.

I have just been through a three week journey from sickness to death to funeral to life again. After a three year battle with AML, my beloved father in law Vince Walsh passed away at home surrounded by his adorning family. There is not enough space on this site, or any site for that matter, to write about this man's history and the impact he made on the world. Suffice it to say, this blog would be meaningless if it were not for his inspiration and insight on the way to live life. I have often heard my wife express that her father was too busy living life to worry about death. True. For Vince, life was about helping others, be it a stranger or a relative. He took the time to know your name, find out where you were from, and worked hard to figure out if there was a common connection between himself and you. If there was a connection, and most often there was, you were instantly treated with royal care. If not, and rarely was that the case, he would remember you if not only for the sole purpose of using you to connect himself with the next person he met. 

But that was such a small part of who he was. He was a large man who in spite of losing most of his weight and muscle mass died large. He embodied the cross of Christ for others to follow. He taught all those around him the importance of life, and never once ceased to excel in his mission. Death could not stop him, for even though he is no longer physically with us he lives in the thousands of hearts and millions of stories that span the globe. All because he wanted to know who you were. When one believes the world revolves around oneself, that is to say when one's self-importance overshadows others, then their world is limited to those within that limited universe, such as a family or group of friends. But when one revolves around the universe, placing others before the self, they quickly discover their universe is limitless, both here in this present age and the age to come. 

These words seem so small compared to the greatness of what this man had to offer, and what he gave to his faith and to the world.  Small in comparison to all the words and wisdom he would share with anyone willing. For he took the time to see something wonderful in each person, and sought ways to help you be the same. If there is someone you have always wanted to know or talk to then by all means do so. If you are standing in line or in an elevator or getting a parking ticket, get to know the people around you. Ask them their name, and where they are from, and if you are lucky time will allow you to connect the many faces of the world together as God intended.