A few days ago on Hope's campus, a terrible tragedy happened.
At about 8:48 pm the life of a freshman boy was cut short when he was hit by a freight train in an accident on the tracks.
How do you even respond when something this terrible happens?
People were in shock, people were mad, people were mourning.
We turned to God in prayer and lifted up this loss to Him, but that didn't heal the confusion that swirled in all of our minds as we tried to make sense of what had just happened on our campus.
That night, people were waiting as events continued to unfold. They hadn't identified who it had been and many thought it was a non-Hope student but as the night went on, it became clear it was a male and then later a Hope student and finally a freshman.
As I talked on the phone to my mom earlier on in the night she told me to account for all of my guy friends on campus, something that hadn't even crossed my mind. As I started to do this, my phone stopped functioning and I was left without one and so I went to the worship night for our dorm where everybody raised their voices to Christ and prayed for the accident and other areas of hurt in our lives .
Later, two of our guy friends came to our cluster to let us know they were ok.
One of my friends came to me and a few of my other friends to say how much we meant to them. This struck me so deeply and made me realize how much I cared for the people I had met on this campus and developed relationships with. It also made me realize that I didn't tell people nearly enough how much I cared, friends and family included.
As I sat down to write this letter to God and to the people who have added so much richness to my life, I realized something.
It didn't matter that I didn't know J.P. Boerigter. It didn't make it any less painful for those who did know and love him.
He was someone's friend, someone's son, someone's cousin, someone's classmate, someone's roommate.
He was a part of so many different peoples' lives and then one day, he was gone and never came back. This could have easily been a friend of mine and that makes it all the more real to me.
The story of his life is closed now but the impact he had will live on in the lives of those he touched.
His story is a reminder that every day must be seen as a precious gift from Jesus to simply live out the love in our hearts every single day to everyone around us.
"Lord,
You have blessed me with so many countless blessings in this life and what I count most special is the relationship I have with You and those You have placed in my life to walk alongside me through the joy and the pain.
I'm writing to this as a sign of appreciation to the beautiful and amazing friends that God has given me and the life I have led up until this point. Some of you I have known since I was four, some I met in middle school, in the turbulent years of high school where all we wanted to do was get out and yet we made it out *Maryam* , and some just this year. You have all seen me through the highs, the lows, the in betweens and just some of those days when we laugh until we cry *Nikkie* /dance like no one is watching..*Janel* ...truly :)
You have all shown me love.
Shown me encouragement.
Inspired me to be a better person.
Pushed me to challenge myself in faith and in this life.
All of you mean more to me than you will ever know and I have been blessed beyond measure to know each one of you. This is a letter of thanks to each of you who have changed my life. I will be here for all of you through it all and you matter to me. Thank you for being so wonderful to me even when I feel I don't deserve it. Take time to remember those who have changed your life and personally thank them.
To the amazing friends I have at Hope-You have no idea how lucky I am to have met you.
To my friends back home-you have seen me through some darkness, some light and everything else in between.
To my family-you listen to me talk about certain things all too often.. *mom* an you love me through the ugly stuff as well as everything else. I am grateful.
"I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.."
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.."
This is the day when you can decide.
You can look through God's eyes to see those around you who are struggling.
You can decide to stop living for yourself and for your own desires.
You can start living the urgent life for Christ we are called to where the clock will one day stop.
You can love recklessly for the God who wants every piece of who you are.
We can choose to be thankful for the gift that this life is for every one of us.
As long as your heart beats, then the door is still being held open for you to walk through into the type of life Jesus beckons us towards here on this Earth.
Living, loving, breathing in honor of Jesus.
Rest in peace J.P. Boerigter
Your spirit will forever live in our hearts. May Jesus carry you the place He has prepared for us. You blessed this campus with your presence and though I didn't know you, you will be missed dearly.
"..I will trust in You, even in the moments I can’t find you, and I will hold on to Your promises of love You’ve never failed before I know You can hear me When the silence is deafening Even though You seem far away And I know You’re here with me But I just need faith to see Nothing can separate me from Your love..."-Meredith Andrews
May Your peace rule in our hearts overwhelming our darkness and suffering that we carry.
May we have thankful hearts for the beautiful gifts that fill our lives with family, friends, and fellowship.
May we learn to live in the truth that our days are numbered and may that impact the way we love and live the rest of our lives.
In Your name, Amen.
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