Diminished by one

Word came from Fr. Daniel yesterday that one of our members, Keith H., has passed away.

Hang around a church for a quarter-century or so and it's as inevitable as newborns become adults that older members will pass away. And Keith was well into his 90s.

It's a bit sad to reflect on those parishioners who are no longer with us, whether due to old age, disease or horrible accident. Every one a different spark, missed by those who remember them.

Keith, now... I dug through my archives of (digital) photographs and found one --exactly one!-- of him, from Christmas 5 years ago. I'm not going to post it, though, because if you didn't know him you'd think you were seeing the absolutely most dour, sour man on earth, somebody who'd make Scrooge look like the life of the party. What you wouldn't see is the rather dry and funny remark coming up next, straight out of left field, followed by his face crinkling impishly as a laugh sought its way out to let you know you'd been had. Again.

I know, he's gone (we pray) to be with the Lord and we'll see him again in the fullness of time. But for here and now... we are diminished by the loss of yet another spark.

Pray for the soul of Keith H., gone to meet his Maker, and for Phyllis.