Kay Yow

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Today, January 24, 2009 a woman that I admire died here on Earth. Her spirit, her soul, has not died, yet I feel a profound loss. This woman, Kay Yow, I felt as if I knew from afar, I didn’t know here though. I watched her coach young people, young woman at NC State, something she was truly gifted and talented in doing. Kay Yow had a passion for coaching and teaching young women.

Kay Yow fought breast cancer for a long time and I’m sure there were battles that were painful for her both physically and emotionally. I am grateful that those pains are now gone. Shed I believe by the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross on Calvary.

I feel immensely sad today for the loss of Kay Yow. Like so many of us who have experienced a loss we desire to hold those who we love, admire, cherish and care about close, it is our very human nature to do so. My feelings aside I grieve for a dear, dear friend who was one of Coach Yow’s protégés. My friend had the experience of playing for coach and my friend reintroduced me to the joy of watching basketball. My love of the games was reinvigorated by a woman, coach Yow, who didn’t compete against opponents, but rather “with” opponents. In my mind and in Coach Yow’s mind there is a huge difference.

A believer in Christ the Messiah would naturally compete with an opponent. At its very nature that is Christian. Competing with means in it together, working for a common goal, the love of the game which translates to the love of others because they are involved in, and plugged into the game. This in with philosophy and passion transcends the hardwood court and into the stands.

Christ exemplified being in it with humanity, during his brief stay here on Earth to full fill God’s promise and in his ever presence here as Spirit and the light of the world. Christ is God’s example that God will never abandon humanity. God will be “with” us forever.

So I find my comfort in my mourning, God in the book of Matthew says I will. Why, again because we are in it together, we don’t mourn alone, we mourn with others. We mourn for our friends, loved ones, families and the broader community who are in pain and touched by a loss. We grieve and pray that the spirit, soul of those who we love will be comforted because that’s what being in it together means.