By Deacon Gregory M. Kirk
St. Joseph Church Galion
Like surrounding communities this morning, Galion is held in the grip of frigid, below zero degree temperatures. It helps to remember that winter will soon pass and that life will take on a friendlier, easier cadence. But my beloved hometown is in the grip of something more crippling than the weather this morning. Galion is also in the grip of grief. The death of nineteen year old Michael Harris on Wednesday of this week, after a short but intense battle with cancer, has impacted and saddened people of all ages here, and from all walks of life. If a town could be said to have a heart, this town’s heart is broken.
Everyone who knew Mike in life would name the same qualities and virtues that I would in characterizing him: principled, faithful, mannered, charming, intelligent, gifted, handsome, gentle, kind, athletic, and thoughtful. Mike was a poster boy of what parents everywhere want their children to grow up to be. Mostly, he was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. If striving to love others, as Jesus loves us, is the benchmark of being Christian, in a very short life, Mike made great strides in this endeavor.
Galion will miss Mike’s smile, his energy, his passion and the love he brought to those around him.
We are all better people for having known and loved him. Mike was our son Tony’s best friend. In every way that counts and matters, he was family to us. Our children have lost more than a good friend. They have lost a brother.
In my humanity, I have many questions for God. Among them, “why?” I have shared some thoughts with our Creator over this matter. The one word I have continued to propose is, “unfair.” And yet, God’s loving Spirit is stronger than my questions. His reassurance calms my doubt. Over and above the cold and snow this morning, He whispers words of comfort and consolation. As I lament the shortness of Mike’s life, God encourages me to be grateful for the time we had with him. Instead of mourning the things Mike will not be able to do in this life, God is showing me how well Mike did the things he accomplished here. If our mission in life is to love God above all things and to love others as we love ourselves, then Mike was amazingly successful in his mission. As I consider his passing on this cold morning, the words, “mission accomplished” resound above all words.
Jesus promised that those who follow Him will die physically, but live on spiritually, forever. He promised that we will one day live with Him. The spirit of Michael Harris lives on. Mike has transitioned from this life, to a greater one. The Mike who was there for everyone in life, is now there for us, in greater ways than we can ever imagine. While my tears blur the words, they are nevertheless there. Deo gratias – thanks be to God. Thank you Father, for the life of one amazing young man. And send down Your Spirit, and console the broken hearted.