A Life Cut Short

I attended a funeral today after last night's Chinese New Year celebration during church fellowship. It was an emotional farewell.

Paul was a hardworking and easygoing family man. His life was cut short under the unbearable weight of depression following type II diabetes diagnosis about four years ago. His sudden departure early in the week made many mourners grapple deeper with the meaning of life. His children, wife, siblings, and friends, while choking back tears, remembered a kindhearted man who loved photography and made his customers as photogenic as technically possible. Pastor Chan, having battled his own type II diabetes for a decade, readily identified with Paul in the uphill daily struggle. Paul's wife thanked everyone and asked for understanding if she calls for help as she copes with Paul's untimely death. She implored us to openly share our inner feelings with loved ones whenever feeling pressured in life.

I learned more about Paul's life during his funeral than before. I'd rather see him snapping the camera and living to a much older age than 56. Nonetheless, I admire his courage to take the painful exit off life's busy highway. Now he is resting in eternal peace that we all long for after our earthly toil.

Before leaving, I consoled the family with words such as "The Lord is our hope" and "Be strong". I confided with the grieving 18-year old young man that my father died when I was 15. That was almost 30 years ago.

Life goes on. Life must continue. Say cheez and smile, brother Paul.