The days move on

I'm continually amazed at how a community can come together to support each other and help each other grieve. A member of our staff lost his 23 year old son in a hiking accident here in China last week, and the people came out in droves to celebrate JF's life tonight. I can't imagine what C&M (JF's parents) are going through, but my thoughts have turned to them continually throughout the day. I didn't know JF well at all, but he passed on as he lived out his dreams, hiking mountains and chasing sunrises. I can only hope to be so lucky as to leave this world doing something I love. And as was obvious tonight, you never know how far your influence can reach. 

I posted this a long while back, I think, but I can't help but recall it now...

"When a man comes to die, not matter what his talents and influence on genius, if he dies unloved his life must be a failure to him and dying [must be] a cold horror... if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try to live so that our death brings no pleasure to the world."
- John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Rest in peace, JF.