This is Glenn.
I’ve known Glenn now for about 16 years.
Glenn was a teacher for his professional career. A really good one at that. One of those individuals who are underpaid, dismissed by most, but passionate about education and seeing kids succeed at life. He has a wide scope of influence as he relentlessly poured into and shaped young minds (and colleagues too).
Glenn is finishing his race here on Earth. He’s heading for the tape, about to cross.
His love for life, family, and Jesus is real.
He’s walked through some of the most trying times as a parent, loving his children with the upmost of dignity, care, and compassion. He’s loved his wife, Rita, always seeming to bring a smile to her face or making her laugh.
At this point in reflecting, I can only think of the good times. I know there were times where he wanted to be better. He wanted to have another opportunity to handle something or a situation in another way. As we all do.
But as I’ve walked with him and his family over the last 8 months as he has battled Leptomeningeal Metastatic Melanoma, the grace and courage he has demonstrated is what great men of history have shown while knowing their time was short and coming to an end. Never cursing God or wallowing in his circumstance, but asking the question of what else might he be able to do with the time he has left.
As I peruse my Facebook feed, I’m reminded that life is short… it really is a vapor. Here in the moment and gone the next. While this may seem like a depressing thought, I find it liberating and focusing. We’re granted only so much time to experience what we can. There are things we stress about that are really, in reality, nothing.
True greatness, sucking the marrow out of life, comes from serving and loving others. Especially those that can never repay you.
The encouragement is to be in the moment. Celebrate those small accomplishments (along with the big ones), victories, engagements, successes, graduations, plays, ventures of faith, births, and even those family reunions. They are awkward, but… if nothing else, they make for good stories.
When in doubt, love. Especially when someone doesn’t deserve it or have been unkind. It's a choice.
Forgive. Lack of forgiveness causes bitterness. Bitterness will rob you of life. I don’t know who said it, but bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die. Forgive those who have wronged you. It will set you free.
Thank you, Glenn, for your life and sharing it with me. I’m a better man, husband, and dad because of you. I’ll see you soon.