Title of song: I Fade Away
Link to song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwSMmaJnzLE
Lyrics to song: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pillar/ifadeaway.html
Message title: "A Joy in a Death"
A morbid title for my next message? I could see that interpretation, but that is not the intention at ALL. Ripping on a dead man is the worst thing I can imagine. Rather, this message is a dedication to my late friend, Jaren Hoover.
Jaren....where do I begin? I only really knew you for that one year I was at HCS in 8th grade. The last time I saw you was in the chocolate cafe on Linglestown Road. We didn't really talk, but just exchanged glances. Our dads both work at the courthouse, and are good friends from what I hear. I hope your dad can look to mine for strength if he needs it. But this one is between you and me.
I admit, 8th grade wasn't a great year for me, hence why I left after that year was done. You were definitely the popular kid of the grade. Even though we were in middle school, you still were friends with A LOT of the high schoolers. I found that rather amazing, and intimidating. From what I remember, you had your fair share of rips at me. I wasn't the popular kid, you were. That's the way it goes. Overall....I don't think we got along that well. At best, I would have called us "acquaintances".
But now I realized something....perhaps too late. I was wrong. Maybe I got laughed at, and maybe I wasn't the popular kid, but I shut other people out. Now it seems like a little too late to make amends.
Jaren, I mourn your death, but I dedicate this song to you because now you have given me joy. A part of the second verse says "I'm still reminded of the days when I turned my back on you and told you we should go our separate ways. Well, I was wrong for far too long." This is my admission that I was wrong in my ways. But now you have faded away from this earth....but I can take joy in this. Why? Two reasons. The first is that now you get to see what I can't right now: God face-to-face. The second is a little deeper than that, because through your death, you have done something that would never be done if you were alive. You made me remember you. But this isn't a one-time deal, because you'll stick with me in my mind no matter where I go. Whether I knew it or not, you had an impact on me. Obviously, you were much stronger than I was, and probably still are. I know I need to get back to weightlifting like I did in high school, and you've given me that boost. Whenever I'm in the weightroom now, I'll dedicate all my sessions to you, because you became my mentor in physical strength even in the just the past few hours. You're my brother Jaren, I'm sorry I turned my back on you. I won't make that mistake again. With a tear in my eye, I say "Rest in peace, my friend." I'll see ya when it's my turn to come up :)
Now, how about the people reading this? This song is obviously called "I Fade Away", and the message behind it is about fading away from God. Obviously, it's not a good thing. But apply this to all relationships....is there someone that you are fading away from? Don't let it happen. Every person you come in contact with is a new relationship. I had something told to me that made me feel really amazing recently. Over the summer, I worked with a few of my dad's friends from the courthouse at a landscaping job. I worked only two different times, and quit because my "boss" was having many problems with his life which I won't go into detail on...my point I wanted to make is that I only worked for the guy twice. The first time I worked, my dad's friend named Kevin was helping too. Kevin is a really great guy; he's probably in his late thirties, in top physical shape, and just a really pleasant guy to be around. I don't remember what all I talked about with him, but I don't remember any spiritual discussions, and I think he knew that I was a Christian. All I did was work and did what I was told to without complaining. Well, I guess Kevin was really amazed by this, and was talking to my dad to ask how I was doing. Apparently I had such an impact on Kevin, that he talked to his wife, and they're now going to send their son to a Christian school. This just blows my mind and makes me say "Wow.....I did that. I can really make an impact." This is why I say relationships are so important. I seriously only talked to the guy once, and now he's sending his son to a Christian school because of what he saw in me. My work isn't done....I have to be careful to not lose contact with Kevin. It's the same with everyone reading this note. Don't fade away from ANYTHING. If you claim God as your King, don't fade away. If you know a friend from high school or middle school that you haven't talked to in awhile, don't fade away. Keep striving hard, keep all your relationships...and most importantly, keep making the impacts that you don't even know you're making.
Thank you Jaren, for your final impact on me. I dedicate this to you, my friend.
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