Jennifer and I hugging at the 20 year reunion party.

This past weekend a friend of mine from high school, Jennifer Schoolfield, was killed in a tragic car accident. Her truck that she was driving veered off a gravel road and when it came back onto the road it rolled over, throwing her from the vehicle. She was instantly killed. I had not seen Jennifer in twenty years but recently began speaking to her on Facebook and then saw her for the first time at a 20 year reunion party a couple of weeks ago. She greeted me with a long and warm embrace, like we were the closest of friends, even though we really weren’t. To be honest, I hardly knew her, but I could see she was deeply hurting as she told me about a recent difficult divorce.

But now her pain is over.

She knew Jesus and now she is with Him in Heaven.

As I reflect on this, I once again realize how fleeting our lives are. We waste so much time on selfish things that have no lasting value. How many people are around me that are deeply hurting and I can’t see it because I’m so focused on myself and worried about all my own problems. Lord forgive me for not seeing the brokenness in the people right in front of me. I want to love like you love, without selfish intent. Open my eyes, that I may see those around me who are in need of a tender word or a warm embrace. Strengthen my feeble arms and my weak knees that I might lift my hand to help someone else in need. Give me courage to reach out beyond where I am comfortable. Give me a deeper passion and fire within my heart for the broken and lost soul.

My prayer is that through Jennifer’s physical death, the spiritually lost and dead will find eternal life in Christ Jesus, that they may join her in Heaven one day. There are many who are seeking an answer to their loss and pain, may they find it in Him alone.

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