I didn't know Lauren Bump, the 24-year old graduate student, who happened to be running in an area park on New Year's Eve and was stabbed to death. Her story has captured the hearts of many of us in San Antonio and around the country. Lauren was working toward her Physician's Assistant degree at Harding University in Arkansas. She had done missionary work in Guatemala and desired to use her talents to help those less fortunate with medical needs. I just don't get it... a precious life cut short.
Even though I never met Lauren, I attended her funeral at our church. Lauren's funeral was a celebration of her life here on earth. Those family and friends near her, knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that upon her death, Lauren was in the presence of Jesus. They knew that she had lived her life for Christ and now, she would see Him face to face. That's worth celebrating! But in the midst of this truth, there was also so much sorrow. The loss of an innocent life. The sting of a life cut short. The loss of a daughter. Sister. Friend. Fellow student. Missionary. Loss is unspeakably tragic. Life will forever be different for those left behind.
During the funeral, several of her close friends read Lauren's blog dated November 16th, entitled "Success." Lauren contemplated how her definition of a successful life had changed over time. She stated "It is often seen as a summation of all of our achievements; the number of degrees you've attained, how much money you make, how prestigious your job position is compared to the average Joe, the type of car you drive, how nice of a house you have, how expensive your wardrobe is, or even how many kids or friends you have." (labump.blogspot.com) Lauren then shared how, during an 18 month period after college, that the Lord began to show her about true success. She lived at home, became a youth group leader at her parent's church, and held several different little jobs. She wrote "It would be very easy for anyone to look at me at the time and think that I was one of those that never amounted to anything close to being successful, but what they didn't know is how God changed my heart and brought me to a dry season not for my glory but for His." I'll let you read her blog spot for the "rest of the story." Suffice it to say that Lauren knew true success.
Lauren's funeral changed me in several ways. It reminded me of the brevity of life and loving people well. What if today was the very last day you would see your loved one? What would you say? How would you treat them? So often, we can bear grudges, live in unforgiveness, hold on to an offense and miss loving people really well. Then, one day, they die. Unexpectedly. Without warning. And we feel remorse, for not saying enough "I love you," For not making wrongs right. For not telling people what a difference they made in our lives. The night of Lauren's funeral, I called my brother and left a message. With tears in my eyes and a shaky voice, I just shared with him how much I love him and shared my remorse for how rarely I tell him. He called the next day and thanked me. Sweet. Funerals have a way of affecting us. Don't they?
"You were made by God and for God. And until you understand that, life will never make sense." Rick Warren
The true way to living a successful life is finding how to live one in JOY: 1. Jesus 2. Others 3. Yourself. Yes, yourself, is put very last." Lauren Bump
Nancy Abbott in the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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