Remembering Jessica

Last June, my daughter graduated from the high school at which I teach.  Among the other students who graduated with her that day was Jessica Galley.  I knew Jessica before she got to the high school, as she was in Girl Scouts with my daughter in grade school.  She was then, and for as long as I knew her always was, one of the nicest kids I've ever met, and she always had a smile to share.  A few days ago, Jessica was killed in a tragic automobile accident.  Since then, the following thoughts have been floating around in my head, so I thought I'd get them out.

It doesn't make sense.  It doesn't, and it won't. We look at this tragedy with our very human eyes, and we see a life cut short.  We see a life so full of promise, so full of potential.  We see the positive impact that Jessica was supposed to make on the world, and we see a future that now will never be.  We see a kind, loving, caring, giving, gifted, God-fearing young lady, and we ask, "Why?"  And none of the answers make sense.

So we look back at all that now remains.  We look at the pictures from the 18 years that we were blessed to have Jessica with us.  The picture I have is of Jessica with my daughter and the rest of the Girl Scout Troop at the event that earned them their Bronze Award.  We flip through picture after picture of a silly face intended to make us laugh or of that genuine, bright, beautiful smile.  We look back on the life that was, and if this is all we pay attention to, if this life, here, is all we focus on, then our question, "Why?" will never receive a satisfactory answer.

But as Christians, we do not focus on "here".  At every death, be it the death of an infant, a grandparent, or an 18-year-old, we do not stop at the celebration of the life that was.  We celebrate the life that still is.  We look death square in the face, and we say over and over again, "Christ is Risen!"  And because Christ is risen, death has no hold on us.  Because Christ is risen, we have an unshakable belief, an unfailing hope, a fearless faith that, despite everything our human senses may tell us, she is ok.  And in fact, she is better now than she has ever been.   Because Christ is risen, we need not worry.  We will see her again.  And, despite how hard it may be to believe, that beautiful smile will be even brighter.

In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to the soul of Your departed servant, Jessica, and remember her forever.  Amen.