It has almost been four weeks since the passing of my friend's son, Dylan. These past several weeks have kept my wife and I on high alert so that we could best serve Victoria (Dylan's mom) and her family, encourage and grieve together, and handle our daily responsibilities. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to reflect on this season and the best way to summarize everything is by making much of community and God's sovereignty. 

While Dylan's passing was tragic and hundreds of thousands of people were impacted by his life and condition, as I look back I can clearly see God at work in the lives of Dylan's friends and family and in His own people. In fact, I believe that because of Victoria's faithfulness, the Lord chose to not only save Dylan and bring him to Himself, but also use Dylan in order to reveal Himself to hundreds, two specifically. 

C O M M U N I T Y 

Almost a month before Dylan's accident, Victoria came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at a Women's Retreat. Throughout this time, Victoria had been in community with other women and hearing more about the gospel when it all clicked. Victoria submitted her to life to the Risen King and almost immediately became a missionary mom to Dylan.

Then, tragedy struck as Dylan suffered an accident that resulted in the Lord calling him home. I wept with Victoria, with my family, and in solitude over Dylan's passing. However, I needed to look at what God was doing in the midst of all of this to find some comfort.

While Dylan was in the hospital in addition to the time after his funeral service, I saw the church come together in radical prayer, support, and care in a way that I had never seen before. People were setting their schedules and work aside to minister to Victoria's family in tears, service, and comfort. I saw the church reflect compassion in its truest form: a time of suffering.

I saw the community group my wife and I lead step up in a way that brings me to tears. Our house was cared for while we were out of town, people stepped in and led on Friday nights and put in extra hours on Sunday and during the week to make sure things were taken care of. And no matter the hour or need, I saw our group step in to serve. 

It was an outer working of discipleship; giving their lives to Victoria because her and her family had become dear to them (1 Thessalonians 2:8). It was an overflow of compassion by weeping alongside of Victoria (Romans 12:15). It was God's absolute sovereignty because Victoria's daughter and her boyfriend experienced a care that was honorable, genuine, and compassionate from a people that were reminded that they were God's people and had received mercy (1 Peter 2:10-12). 

The Donate Life flag outside of Driscoll's Children's Hospital. Dylan impacted 100 other kids' lives through his donation.

Dylan (in the paintball mask) at Seth's Nerf War party last year.

The Legacy Wall: The numerous kids who donated their organs (including Dylan) to save others kids in need of life.

Tons of cars! Our community group convoy after helping move Victoria's belongings while she stayed with family.

H I S • S O V E R E I G N T Y 

I know I turned into a preacher on that last paragraph, but if you would allow me to continue. This is the paramount to my observation! As our community, the church loved Victoria's family through Dylan's accident, God was at work in the lives of Victoria's daughter, Bethany and her boyfriend, Mando. 

Two months ago, these two individuals did not know who Jesus was and now have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus! And while I really wish Dylan was here because I miss his questions, I can see the work that Jesus was doing through Dylan to rescue his big sister. I knew that Dylan's loss would be a giant ripple effect in the lives of many; a ripple we can trace all the way back to Victoria being faithful, even while young in the faith. In His sovereignty Jesus would save Victoria to save Dylan in order to use Dylan to save Bethany, Mando, and for hundreds of people to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

WHAT!? 

I miss Dylan. He was such a joy to me and my family. I cannot wait to see him one day so we can talk about the sports I don't know and play X-Box.

I do not know why Jesus chose to call Dylan home so soon, but I do know that (1) if Dylan had a choice, he wouldn't want to come back and (2) I know that Christ is sovereign even when we don't understand and by seeing and getting to be a part of these evidences of grace, I can embrace His sovereignty in order to keep moving forward in faith; in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.