Friday, December 21, 2007

Au revoir, pas adieu


Our young friend, Chris Rudloff, lost his fight last night, about the time I was uploading that last post.

Chris was a special young man with a gleaming future ahead of him . . . ahead of them, Chris and the love of his life, Abby. It was just in May that we attended their wedding, then partied through the night in celebration of their future together.


WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW -- couldn't have even believed -- that future would be this damned short. It's not right, and it's not fair. Of course, not a damned thing about life is fair. Death, either.

I write this through my tears this cruel Christmastime, and nothing breaks my heart more than to think that, at such a young age, Abby is living the worst nightmare of any woman who looks upon her husband and sees the love of her life.
And of any man who desperately loves his wife and knows -- absolutely knows -- that it's all true when he calls her his "better half."

Likewise, it goes without saying how devastatingly wrong it is for any parent to bury a child.

This week before Christmas, I don't feel like decorating the tree. I don't want to do a Christmas edition of the Revolution 21 podcast. Particularly for us in Omaha, this season of good tidings and joy has brought in a harvest of death.

And now this for those of us who knew Chris and loved him.

WE WILL, however, decorate the tree. I will now get to work on putting together a Christmas podcast, though it may be a little late. It is necessary to celebrate the baby who came into the world to conquer death.

It is because of that first Christmas, that joyous day so long ago when God became man, that we now tell our friend Chris au revoir. Not adieu.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This news numbs us as we mourn the lost of an incredible person. Chris was blessed with so many gifts and talents... but looking back each person that Chris touched are the blessed. The love, compassion, joy, and willingness to do whatever it took to bring a smile... He was one of a kind... but as we mourn please be reminded that Chris will always be with us!
As a former volunteer with the Connections group my wife and I had the priviledge of knowing and loving Chris. This loss will be felt for some time...
Abby - you are in our thoughts and prayers! Love, Matt & Alyssa

Anonymous said...

My deepest condolances to the family from here in Connecticut