Yesterday, the keeper led a funeral service for a beautiful young man whom she met when he was about 4 or 5. He died last week at age 22. He had a difficult life, and he arose each with courage to try to live beyond the anxiety, the doubts, the pain. His funeral was such a powerful celebration in a packed church--young, old, his friends, his parents' friends, his partner, his sister, his uncles and aunts. There were eulogies of words, of song, of rap, of tears, of laughter. One short life touched so many, with encouragement, with humor, with love.
As the keeper said, Kevin's life was a love story, God's love for him, and his love for us as best he was able. That love was not the stuff of valentines, but "harsh and dreadful" which pushed
all beyond their capacity to love, forgive, embrace, imagine.
Kevin had written a wonderful note in purple marker on green construction paper to the keeper when she left that church. But now she wants to turn around and share that same note back to him: Dear Kevin,
Thank you for being nice to me. I am very sad that you are leaving. I will miss you too. It would be nice if you could stay. I hope you will have a nice time in your new home. I love you too!
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