Si

I have been wanting to update the blog since we came back from Hong Kong/China about all our adventures there. Struggling with time management to do this is another job to accomplish before I can get down to business. I did not, however, anticipate that when I am ready to blog again, I would be writing about the loss of a good friend, Si Lee, who died suddenly with a heart attack during his sleep one week ago. He was only 48 years old.

One of the last conversations I had with Si was three Sundays ago. After the Sunday service at the community center Si asked me about the blog. He said he didn't know that we keep one, and when he found out about it he read all the stories there. He told me that he really liked them. I told him that I have really been enjoying writing about my kids, and that it's been so relaxing for me. He noticed that I haven't updated the blog for a while, and urged me to write some more. When it was time to leave, I yelled out to him as he was walking to the parking lot, "I will keep you posted about the blog. It will be updated soon." Those words and enthusiasm of the conversation were still so vivid. Only the person is no more. 

Mark and I knew Si somewhere around 2001 and 2002. We were part of the same small group with our church, prayer groups, and we worked regularly on setting up the worship service area and music/sound board ministries on Sunday mornings at the Munson Library in Amherst. Through these contacts we got to know each other. He had just come from Chicago to join his parents to live, having gone through some rough changes in his life, and now not knowing what the future would hold here. I had just left my second job and was also trying to figure things out in the midst of confusion and frustration. One time we were talking about how our former lives seemed to be so successful when we had so much to be proud of, and then life would change and suddenly we were in the dark valleys. It was hard but good to have someone to share these experiences with. At times I could the pain that he was bearing was so great that he would not talk about it, but just keep it to himself. I could also see him working hard on being light-hearted around people. Only God knew how frequently his heart had come before Him for strength to go on for another day and hope for the future.

I will miss Si. It still just doesn't seem real even after the wake and the funeral that took place this week. I am comforted knowing that he has finished the journey in this life and is at rest, free of all sorrows and pains. I will look forward to the day when we shall meet again in Heaven.