"But I Promise to Try."

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I lost a former co-worker today. He was 34.

He had some elective surgery that was unnecessary; he was affected by its complications. Regardless of that, it is a very sad day for me and for my family of friends who know Carlos.

We are fighting any anger or misgivings with the great sense of lose that we feel and even more so with the love we have for him and the good and funny memories. It’s amazing that we all came through one place that took so many different people from so many different backgrounds and cauterized them into a family. It’s a testament to our openness and our human need to be in the fabric of life, woven into a tapestry that tells a larger story than the sum of our individual lives.

My former boss hits the nail on the head:

Today is the saddest of days, a day in which we were shocked to learn of the untimely passing of a friend and a colleague, a person who has passed on far too early in life. Quick with a smile, quick with a helping hand, quick with a memorable sense of humor, Carlos was a person who brought vibrancy and life to our organization. He will be deeply missed.

Carlos’ life provides us with perspective on our own lives and of those that we love. His passing reminds us of how precious life is. No matter what challenges we face, we are reminded that we are indeed fortunate. We would all gladly give something of ourselves in order for Carlos to have had the opportunity to grow old.

At a time like this, there are no appropriate words to convey the sense of loss that we all feel. Please feel free to take whatever time you may need to reflect on Carlos’ life.

It’s all not fair. However that’s the beauty of faith and love – that we are charged to remember someone we love and care for and try to make meaning out of it all. There has to be a silver lining in all of us, or else life is just meaningless. And I won’t accept that life is just meaningless, so I’m looking for the lesson for us to learn and grow.

Carlos, may the Angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest. Amen.

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