See You Later, Zach

I had the bittersweet privilege of visiting with some people from my last pastorate on Monday. It was wonderful to see them, but the reason for our reunion was a sad one. A young man named Zach got his driver's license last Wednesday, and was killed later the same day when his car hit a tree. Zach was a good kid. He was born just up the road in Mt. Pleasant, but his family had moved to Ohio some years ago. I was touched to see several members of his church youth group travel from Ohio to SW Pennsylvania to say their goodbyes. I had baptized Zach's little sister and his grandpap (SW PA for grandfather) a little more than a year ago, and I dearly love the whole family, all four generations.

The Prophet Joel wrote to his generation after it was assaulted by a devastating natural disaster. Rather than a cry of gloom and despair, Joel wrote a note of encouragement, assuring Judah that God had not forgotten them, and that there was still every reason to look with hope to the future. He admonished them to be reminded by their hardest days to inventory their own lives, taking stock of their relationship with God.

Zach knew Jesus. We hate it that his life ended so tragically, and we grieve for our loss, but we are comforted to know that we will see him again, when we experience a much more joyful reunion.

To my friends in mourning, my prayers are with you. You know how to get in touch with me; and please know that I always love to hear from you. As much as I hate the circumstances of our gathering, it means so much to me that you asked me to be with you in this most difficult of times. Please know that I love you.