follow up to update and Kyle Lake
This is my followup to the update I gave last Thursday.
I also would like to offer an apology to those who thought offering a happy birthday to blog with the notice of a tragic death was inappropriate. Certainly there was alot to deal with last week, maybe I could have been a bit more sensitive. I am sorry, and sad still.
Reflections
Saddness is what strikes me most as I think about the pilgrimage to Waco for the funeral and all that those closest to Kyle will deal with in the days, months, and years to come. I find myself thinking that this is something I would really like to talk to Kyle about, but then, I catch myself.
Kyle and I were close several years ago. We usually talked once or twice a year more recently. But, he invested alot of time in me as I was working on my relationship with my wife (girlfriend/fiancee at the time), and thinking seriously about faith and seminary. Like many of you, the conversations we had over pool, shuffleboard, or coffee, were echoed in the books he wrote. I dont claim any sort of acknowledgement due, rather, it is great to see the little flowers he passed along to me/us several years ago fully blossom in Understanding God's Will and reUnderstanding Prayer. I can hear Kyle saying these things as I read them, and it seems like I have heard them before.
Besides the authorship Kyle leaves us with, there are two things that I keep coming back to that he taught me.
1. He taught the value of relationships. He spent one of his lunches each week with me for almost two years. That is alot of time, and time that you probably spent with him as well. This was not a lesson learned though him talking about it, rather it was the lesson I learned though his living.
2. He taught me to value thought and learning when it comes to our faith. There were many who encouraged me when I was deciding about seminary, but Kyle's voice was this: "I know this guy who went to Duke Divinity. He really knows his stuff. When you come out, you will probably be way smarter than all of us." Well, I would like to think I know my stuff, but I am not yet 'way smarter' than anyone.
This value of thought in faith is something that is so often overlooked by us as Christians. It is easy to peak, claim we have something already under our belt, or rely on inspiration. We must continue to 'work out our salvation.' Kyle taught by living this.
In the days ahead, I hope to reEvaulate my time and grow my faith. In the evening, when I am searching the directv guide for something to watch, Kyle's voice will push me to pick up a book, rolling stone, or paper. Also, it will prod me to pick up my church directory and make lunch or coffee plans with someone for the days ahead.
Kyle left a broad legacy that was easily seen in the group of folks who made pilgrimages to Waco last week like we did. I hope we will all live well and bless others because of the blessing Kyle was and is to us.
Other thoughts...
I am really sad for all that David Crowder and the band have had to go through in the past week and half. I have heard and read from many how they have rocked each and every night, but it is impossible for me to separate Dave from UBC and UBC from kyle. This is simple logic. But yesterday I spent a couple hours in the car and decided it was time to work through A Collision. I say work though, becuase I have not been able to listen to dcb since I heard about the accident. It has been too hard and pressed too close to home.
As I worked through A Collision yesterday, the first time through I was really sad for Kyle, and especially his family. I am relying on faith that "here is God whose come to bring us back to Him" and that he has come for Kyle. I hope that Kyle has seen 'the light' and that he has now 'already won.' What I am not quite ready for is dealing with all of these resurrection songs as something I claim for Kyle and that I claim for my promise again. I do beleive it, but it is hard to bring it close to heart.
The second time through, I was brought to the sorrow of his closest friends. What this has to with Dave is he has lost his best friend. I know that it hurts me but doesnt affect me daily the way it does those in Waco or those at UBC or his closest friends. In the days ahead, I will be thinking about praying for dave, toni, the band and for ben and jamie who this affects closely as friends and co-workers of Kyle's. There is a long road ahead for all of them. I know our faith speaks to resurrection and rescue, I pray that the time will come when they and we all will recieve this rescue and can again bold claim resurrection for all of God's people.
peace
aho
|
I also would like to offer an apology to those who thought offering a happy birthday to blog with the notice of a tragic death was inappropriate. Certainly there was alot to deal with last week, maybe I could have been a bit more sensitive. I am sorry, and sad still.
Reflections
Saddness is what strikes me most as I think about the pilgrimage to Waco for the funeral and all that those closest to Kyle will deal with in the days, months, and years to come. I find myself thinking that this is something I would really like to talk to Kyle about, but then, I catch myself.
Kyle and I were close several years ago. We usually talked once or twice a year more recently. But, he invested alot of time in me as I was working on my relationship with my wife (girlfriend/fiancee at the time), and thinking seriously about faith and seminary. Like many of you, the conversations we had over pool, shuffleboard, or coffee, were echoed in the books he wrote. I dont claim any sort of acknowledgement due, rather, it is great to see the little flowers he passed along to me/us several years ago fully blossom in Understanding God's Will and reUnderstanding Prayer. I can hear Kyle saying these things as I read them, and it seems like I have heard them before.
Besides the authorship Kyle leaves us with, there are two things that I keep coming back to that he taught me.
1. He taught the value of relationships. He spent one of his lunches each week with me for almost two years. That is alot of time, and time that you probably spent with him as well. This was not a lesson learned though him talking about it, rather it was the lesson I learned though his living.
2. He taught me to value thought and learning when it comes to our faith. There were many who encouraged me when I was deciding about seminary, but Kyle's voice was this: "I know this guy who went to Duke Divinity. He really knows his stuff. When you come out, you will probably be way smarter than all of us." Well, I would like to think I know my stuff, but I am not yet 'way smarter' than anyone.
This value of thought in faith is something that is so often overlooked by us as Christians. It is easy to peak, claim we have something already under our belt, or rely on inspiration. We must continue to 'work out our salvation.' Kyle taught by living this.
In the days ahead, I hope to reEvaulate my time and grow my faith. In the evening, when I am searching the directv guide for something to watch, Kyle's voice will push me to pick up a book, rolling stone, or paper. Also, it will prod me to pick up my church directory and make lunch or coffee plans with someone for the days ahead.
Kyle left a broad legacy that was easily seen in the group of folks who made pilgrimages to Waco last week like we did. I hope we will all live well and bless others because of the blessing Kyle was and is to us.
Other thoughts...
I am really sad for all that David Crowder and the band have had to go through in the past week and half. I have heard and read from many how they have rocked each and every night, but it is impossible for me to separate Dave from UBC and UBC from kyle. This is simple logic. But yesterday I spent a couple hours in the car and decided it was time to work through A Collision. I say work though, becuase I have not been able to listen to dcb since I heard about the accident. It has been too hard and pressed too close to home.
As I worked through A Collision yesterday, the first time through I was really sad for Kyle, and especially his family. I am relying on faith that "here is God whose come to bring us back to Him" and that he has come for Kyle. I hope that Kyle has seen 'the light' and that he has now 'already won.' What I am not quite ready for is dealing with all of these resurrection songs as something I claim for Kyle and that I claim for my promise again. I do beleive it, but it is hard to bring it close to heart.
The second time through, I was brought to the sorrow of his closest friends. What this has to with Dave is he has lost his best friend. I know that it hurts me but doesnt affect me daily the way it does those in Waco or those at UBC or his closest friends. In the days ahead, I will be thinking about praying for dave, toni, the band and for ben and jamie who this affects closely as friends and co-workers of Kyle's. There is a long road ahead for all of them. I know our faith speaks to resurrection and rescue, I pray that the time will come when they and we all will recieve this rescue and can again bold claim resurrection for all of God's people.
peace
aho
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