my jc classmate

I just found out two days ago from a Junior College (JC) classmate that another JC classmate that i had been thinking about for a couple of years now, and searched for on FB for at least a year, hoping she will somehow open an account, has passed away. The JC classmate whom i recently linked up with after seeing her in a TJC anniversary dinner photo saw an obituary of our friend some time last year.

I was shocked. I consider our age to be young, in the full bloom of life - mature enough to avoid making silly mistakes, and yet young enough to still have dreams yet to be fulfilled.


My first response was sadness, curiosity and concern: i will never meet her again. we will not talk and laugh together, not in this life anyway. what had happened? was she a believer? Is she in heaven now? Why did she die so young? What had life dealt her? She was very sociable, and needed affirmation through her relationships. She was street smart and made life exciting and interesting for those around her.

My second instinct was fear: will it happen to me too? But this was very quickly nipped in the bud. Psalm 91:16 promises that we will have long life - till we are satisfied. I intend to live long, to about 100 years old.

The third response came much later. As i was worshiping the Lord with other believers yesterday, i began to hear from the Lord about His heart for the lost. I cried at first as i did not know where this friend was now, then in my spirit, i knew i had to move on. I could no longer do anything about this friend. She could be in heaven for all i knew. But there were other souls that needed His love and mercy that i could reach. Other connections to be made that i can influence and impact. And even as i let that brew in me, another believer was saying the same thing, even more fluently and beautifully (in terms of impact). I knew i had to release what the Holy Spirit was showing me, and to pray.

We began to interceded for the lost.

We began to sense God's heart of compassion for them.


The cry of my heart echoes
the cry of His heart:
He loves the lost
no matter
what they've done,
where they've been,
how they've behaved.
He reaches out
with arms of love and mercy,
pulling them in,
embracing them.