My friend Cindy passed away on the 14th. I'm posting on a Sunday and last week I was sitting in the Madison, WI airport waiting for her youngest son to arrive so i could rent a car and drive us up to marshfield.

Her oldest son is in the other picture, along with my son Kevin in the middle with his former girlfriend. Kevin was in Chicago to help me move back home. we made sure to get together with Doug. It is always good to see him.

I'm sad. I'm not sad about death. Death doesn't bother me. I even look forward to my own death--and Cindy looked forward to hers. but she wasn't planning on going any time soon. it was abrupt and accidental and cruel.

and I know she relied on the sacrifice of Jesus and He said everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and she trusted in Him for her atonement, not in her own works.

but the suddenness and the cruel parts are just hard to swallow. the injustice of it. I am thankful that Jesus will overcome evil with good! He will overcome evil FOR GOOD!

and the song played at the funeral was one of our favorites. we went to the newsboys concert that year. we had the CD (or rather, the cassette, but i bought the CD later). they chose, "Shine"

and I also choose, "Elle G."

the first part doesn't make any sense, and no, Cindy did not kill herself as the girl in the song, but there are questions, there are regrets. How I wish I could talk to her!

thumbs out on a desert road, I am told, leads to nowhere. any shade is as good as the next, if your shadow doesn't go there.

week seven: Did you really assumeI'd find some solace from the letter in your room?next life, could you kindly refrain from throwing yourself at the mercy of a train?

silence all, nobody breathe how in the world could you just leave?you promised you would silence that evil with good

hear me out, I have the floor I'll give you my tears, I'll listen more you promised you would overcome evil with good

maybe this world is a barren place for a soul prone to get lost, but heaven still hounds from the smallest sounds to the cries of the storm-tossed.

week nine: I am writing in the sand any little clue that could help me understand

every whispered secret, every muffled sigh every half-truth that was added to a lie

silence all, nobody move I've got to know now what you hoped to prove you promised you would silence that evil with good

shame feeds guilt, guilt needs release you took it to God you made your peace and swore that you would overcome evil with good

every old demon playing back the crime if they needed blood, I'd have gladly given mine

a Child of the Kingdom; still an invalid

forgive her, please Fathershe don't know what she did

silence all, now go to sleep

the water's free, the well is deep

how can we return

that which we never could earn?

God, I long to see her face

we haven't a hopebeyond Your grace

I know that You will

overcome evil

for good