For Andres...

Last week a friend of mine passed away very suddenly. He had a seizure in his sleep and just like that, gone. I graduated with Andres. In a class of around 100, news travels fast. I got a call later that day, a voicemail saying that something awful had happened, call back. I stayed off Facebook, tried to concentrate during the rest of day and finally heard the bad news from a good friend.

I appreciate hearing bad news from someone who loves me. It makes the world seem much less harsh. I still remember the completely out of the blue phone call telling me that not only had Julien's cancer come back, but he had lost the fight and slipped away without telling us. I still cry for Julien. For the person he was, the person he could have been, should of been.

Andres was a good person. He was fun loving, kind and sincere. We were never close, but in a small high school, you're never far from anyone either. Most of my memories are of andres trying to make me laugh, and make me feel welcome in situations where he knew I was insecure. He was that kind of person.

It wasn't until I saw a friend of mine comment that even though he's gone, she knows he's in heaven and that gives her comfort. It's always seemed really hallow to me, saying someone is in a better place. Then I started thinking, really thinking about what that meant. For me, it means that even if Andres isn't with us, even if he can't continue to share his joy with the world, even if we don't get to see what he could do here, it means this isn't the end for him. I'll still get to tell him, one day, about how I meet some awesome Ecuadorians in Brazil. How Quito is on my list of places to work now. These things that, just last week I was thinking I should say.

For me, following Jesus has been a choice I made because I believe he has the best life for me. Now I realize that that 'best life' could end tomorrow. But because of the choice I've made, if my life did end tomorrow, I know what's waiting for me. I made my choice for my life but I have never been more thankful to know of the eternity I will get to spend with friends who didn't get enough time. Until eternity, you'll be missed Andres.