Funeral for a Friend

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Sometimes funerals can really shake you to the core. This morning I attended a funeral for a friend, Stan. Stan was a member of a group of men I meet with once a month to discuss our respective life journeys. I wrote about these meetings in a previous blog post, Rising Tides and specifically referenced Stan and his transformation in the aftermath of a battle he won against cancer, or so he thought.

Stan was less than a decade older than me, clearly too young to exit this world. Maybe that’s why the funeral had such an impact, a stark reminder of my mortality. But I think it’s more than that. Stan was a gentle man who spoke with understanding, wisdom and grace. He was impactful as evidenced by the standing room only in the church sanctuary. Even the Pastor commented that he had never seen the sanctuary as full. The attendees were not there because it was a “had to be seen at” event. I’ve been to enough of those types of funerals for dignitaries. Stan was not a wealthy or powerful man; he was just a man and a good one at that.

Stan’s passing reminded me of a very important lesson. In the end, we are not measured by our conquests, power and/or wealth. In the end, we are simply measured by our impact on others. How many have we touched in a positive way, helping others in their life journeys? Did we give with no expectation of receiving? Were we humble in our pursuits and the roles that we either accepted, or were thrust upon us?

Like other men in the group, Stan was on a journey to discover a new passion and calling. For Stan it was photography and poetry. Following his first brush with cancer, Stan’s poetry took on an entirely different tone and cadence, one steeped in optimism and love. I think Stan found his gift and in turn his soul. He will be sorely missed in our group and in the lives of all those he touched. Heaven just got richer at our world’s expense. Peace be with you Stan.