Fighter for the weak, lost...

The sadness of modern social media is that a death notice can come over Facebook.  And so this happened to me this week.  Short and sweet, then a lengthy one I wished the sender had saved for email , a phone call, or the good old fashioned way... in person.

"It is with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that our Executive Director ---- ------, passed away on 

Saturday February 6th, 2016. ---- dedicated her life to the goal of helping people with intellectual disabilities to have 

equal opportunity, full participation, respect and value as individuals in their communities. She was an advocate to all 

individuals and pushed for the removal of barriers to the good life with her quiet, kind and persistent voice. She was a 

friend to many and will be sorely missed not only by her family, friends and colleagues but by the disability movement as a 

whole..."

Although sadness comes, I wonder more about where others will pick up... and less about where she left off.  In our conversation I know where we left off.  A beautiful vibrant, passionate woman she was, and still is in her eternal home.  I stood corrected many times as many have been I her presence. Corrected thought, pushing the bar one, two, three levels higher, a 2-10 degree shift in thinking for everyone in the room.  When wrong, humble enough to have grace for herself, apologize, learn and move on.

She saw something I could not see.  Pursued a friendship, I wondered why.  In her questioning, the hunger of a knowing heart desired to know more.  Where forgiveness had been found, taken and given...  hope lingering in the smell of pavement after a spring rain... and the clear conversation with an immeasurable being understood deeply in words not known by human touch.  She knew her time would soon be up, and prepared herself accordingly.  Like fact.  Like knowing she would go no further.  

So when I hurt, it is for those that stand now in the gap.  In ---- I saw something that brothers and sisters rarely carry with them.  A different way, a different world... A fight for those who don't know there is a fight.  Why are we here if not to fight for the ones who don't know there is a fight? Who will fill that gap?  Who will surrender ones life for the call?  Even as I ask this question the echo of a hollow generation peers empty into the void she has left.  And yet He knows.  He knows, and will provide.  

If there is any verse in the Word that my friend carried with her it was this one...

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..."