A Friend

Right after September 11, 2001 happened - I started thinking about the number of people grieving the loss of a loved one.  How many people would miss one of the victims?

I put it in the realest terms I could from my own perspective.  

Who would miss me? Beyond family, friends, co-workers - who else in my life would miss my presence?  The guy at the coffee truck every morning. The cafeteria workers who engaged in a friendly, brief chat with me daily, sometimes more than once. The building maintenance crew, whom I knew well. The owner of the coffee shop in my town.  Doctors, other professionals.

If you added it all up - one victim could equal a hundred or more people who would miss them.

And what about those that lived with injuries? The numbers would be even larger.

Jesus promises us that our redemption belongs to us if we follow him. That the next phase of existence is paradise with his Father in heaven - immortal, restored to glory - newness of life.

A friend - a cherished member of my parish family - is in critical condition after a hit-and-run incident in the parking lot of our church. She has been in ICU since May 27. In that time she's had one really good day - alertness being the key measure. Otherwise she is being kept in a medically-induced coma while her medical teams try to stay ahead of the complications that are coming out of her devastating injuries.

She was run over - twice - by the person who left the scene. We believe the individual backed up, then pulled forward. It's possible that the person didn't realize they hit anyone. Except that it's been getting heavy news coverage for a week - so at this point, they must KNOW what they did and are still not coming forward.

But we need to set that aside for now.

My friend has severe crush-injuries. Her entire torso has been mangled - pelvis, ribs, lung, liver, and multiple other major internal injuries. The doctors are trying to figure out how to stay ahead of it all - and so far they can't.

She is a fighter, this woman. And a woman of incredibly deep faith. She is quiet yet funny.  Soft-spoken yet compassionate. Her kindness knows no limit. If anyone can get thru this, it's her.

Her injuries are extensive enough that it's unlikely she will return to what she did and who she was before. And we - her parish family & friends - just want to see her back with us. Her return is what we long for.

To go back to my original point - how many people are praying for my friend? Her parish family is over 1100 people alone. Plus the local community, who also knows & loves her. She'd be embarrassed at all the fuss - she is humble and self-effacing. The number of people who know her, in real life, are in the thousands. 

Jesus promises a beautiful future beyond death. For now, we are fighting hard to keep our friend with us. It's selfish, yes. And we aren't ready to let her go.  

The video attached above is her favorite song - her personal anthem. We've been asked to pray, and to especially listen to this song and pray for her.

May I ask that you do the same? Please pray for my friend - Lois. Please pray for her family.  

This is the air I breathe

This is the air I breathe

Your holy presence living in me