Tragic news

I just heard last night that Rick Burgess' little two-year old son drowned earlier this week. That's the Rick of Rick and Bubba. In Atlanta, we hear them only on Sunday afternoons during their "Best of Rick and Bubba" show on AM 750. Rick and Bubba are so funny! I'd call it Southern, Christian, right-wing comedy, and it's easy to literally laugh out loud during one of their stories.

It's so tragic that Rick's son drowned. Someone taped Rick's eulogy at the funeral and put it on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PUHUZWyFeg. It's way more than a eulogy: more like a sermon. Very powerful. Rick urges us to let our lives be defined by how many people we bring the gospel to. He reminds us that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33), but Jesus has overcome the world. And, Rick also reminds us of the simple statement by Jesus: If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).

Good stuff to hear, especially from a father who is mourning the loss of his youngest son. That family will never be the same, although I can already predict, based on their strong faith in God, that the Burgesses will become "better", not "bitter" from this terrible event. Even so, I'm sure their feelings of loss right now are simply overwhelming.

So much has happened this week that reminds me of the fleeting-ness of life on earth. Really makes me want to re-examine some priorities.