This year, the world has had to say "goodbye" to too many people. But among the famous people that have passed or been murdered, there are hundreds that die everyday but suddenly when a celebrity passes, we care more than we should.
Let me explain this.
On November 12th, 2009, I was in my web design design class when my teacher received a call and I was asked to go down to the office WITH all my belongings. As everyone knows, when you're called down to the office, you immediately think of every bad thing you have done. So I'm walking down there, my heart beating so fast when I walk in and see my mom crying, with my whole family there. Mind you, my mom was SUPPOSED to be on a field trip with my brother, who was also in the office. My first thought was "Oh boy what did I do to make my whole family come to the office?" And then she barely uttered the words "Grandpa Vanderspek is dead." I stood there in shock, as he was given a clean bill of heath a week before and was on the phone with my dad 18 hours before. I didn't know what to think. The whole 45 minute ride down to my other grandparents was just silent. Nobody said anything. That was the first (and last) time I saw my other grandpa cry. He is still alive along with my 2 grandmas. But I was sad. Shocked. Angry. And that's how that story fits in to this post.
6 and a half years later, I'm on Twitter late at night when I see #PrayForChristinaGrimmie trending at number 1. I click on the hashtag only to find out that she was shot. I had the same thought that YouTube comedian Jarrod Alonge tweeted: "Christina Grimmie was shot? Why would anyone shoot Christina Grimmie?" Honestly. Why? She did nothing but show love. 22 years and at the beginning of what was going to be a HUGE music career. I followed the story until the Orlando Police declared her dead via Twitter. Its almost 3 months since that happened and I still can't even as much as think of her without getting emotional.
So thinking of that, I realized something. I was more shocked and more sad at one of my favorite singer's dying than my grandpa. Thinking of that, now I feel guilty. But let me explain why I'm more saddened which sounds horrible but its the truth and honestly not as bad as you think.
First of all, Grimmie is only 5 months older than me. When she was murdered, I was only 2 and a half months from being 22. My grandpa was 71, I believe. I feel even worse that I can't remember. Grimmie's death made me realize. What if in November, after I have been 22 for 3 months, I'm murdered? Her death made me say "Wow, life is short." I almost immediately related it to Switchfoot's song "Live It Well," that released just 3 weeks before her death. She lived her life so well. She loved the Lord and died doing what she loved. Am I doing what I love? Am I living for the Lord? Answer for number 1 is no and number 2 is yes.
I work at Domino's and on the way to work, a couple days after she was murdered, I was talking to my mom. I said something that was shocking to both of us, but very true. I said "Mom, what if someone walked into Domino's today and decided to shoot the place up and I am gone?" That's still a possibility. If that ever does happen, I may not be doing what I love, but I do die a man of God and know that I am going to Heaven. But, let me rethink what I just said. I actually am doing what I love. I'm serving people and making them happy. I even got to have a short conversation about Jesus with a customer the other day. I would die happy.
That is why her death affected me more than my grandpa's.
That is why her death affected me more than my grandpa's.
So as I conclude this post, I want you to ask yourself: "Are you living it well?"
Until Next Time, Alex
