When you are young, you think you are invincible. Nothing can ever strike you down.
One summer we learned that the opposite is true. Out of nowhere, our friend Brian died when the plane that he was piloting crashed and he was killed instantly. Eleven years ago today, we lost a shining star in our world.
It was so hard to hear that someone so young and full of life and on the verge of realizing his dreams was gone forever. In those moments, life seems to freeze. Nothing else matters. But, like it always does, life continues on. You grow, you change, you move on. And it hurts when you look back at what could have been and what should have been. Brian should still be here, flying planes, probably married with cute little kids running around in cowboy boots and hats, living out his dreams. But instead, he earn a different set of wings.
As time passes, you start to forget things. There is always that missing piece, the hole that can never be filled inside your heart and inside your mind. But some of the details start to slip away. The conversations you had, the times spent together. But with Brian, there are some things that can never be forgotten: the cowboy hat and boots, the flannel shirts, his love of God and others, his way of captivating a room, and his smile. No matter how much time passes, I will never forget Brian's smile; it's impossible. It was infectious, and it still is. Still, when I think of his smile, it makes me smile. I can't help it. Thinking of his smile reminds me of everything Brian was. A young man full of life, energy, love, and faith. A positive influence to everyone around him. Someone who was here to help build God's Kingdom on Earth, and he sure did!
So here is to you, Brian - you'll always be our cowboy!
