As I walked along the beach one evening this week, I got an unexpected expected call. One of my best friends, KT, died in the hospital today after three years of battling cancer. He had been in the hospital for a week or so, but the end was devastatingly rapid. As I walked with my wife and daughter, we talked about how much KT loved the beach, and that he would be so happy we were there thinking about him. We talked of washers, horseshoes, volleyball, football, and even a soccer game, all played at the beach with KT. He and his family are woven into our lives in so many ways I never really stopped to think about them. Meeting at Baylor. Our kids growing up together. Church together. Trips together. Families interwoven. Friendships interwoven. Lives interwoven.

So now we have a new chapter. The circle is down one. I stood on the beach and had a literal kaleidoscope of memories wash over me. Too many to call out, but somehow, all of them were good. And it hit me, that was who KT was. He was a good man. He loved his family, his friends, and his God. He sang, he cheered his Bears on, and loved to play cards. In fact, KT just loved life. He was quick to open his home up, quick to share what he had, even in those times when he didn’t have much to share. My life, my families life, and our circle of friends is so much richer and fuller because of KT.

As I think about him now, pain free, healed, and home, I smile for him. The tears I have are selfish tears. I am humbled to think about all the life we’ve shared, and struggling with how it all changes. I think poker games won’t quite be the same, how the hunt will be somehow empty, and how Baylor games will just be less. I ache for his wife, and his family, and think how shallow my loss is compared to theirs. At the same time, I hope they find comfort knowing that he left a beautiful legacy for them, and that he is deeply loved and missed. Part of me says this is too soon to write anything, that I am still struggling to process this loss. And that very well may be true, so I ask for grace where I fall short with my words. Even now, I am trying to find how to be grateful in this pain, knowing that only things of great value cause this much pain.

The highest praise I can say for my friend, is that he lived a life worthy of the calling he received, and our lives are better for having him and his family woven into ours, and into our circle. Grace and peace.