Sunday, January 22, 2012

January 21, 2012: See You Later Little Buddy... part 2



Heaveno!

THANK YOU for all the wonderful comments.  Holy cow, they mean so much to us.  Again, I'm really sorry I haven't gotten this whole post out quicker; life is really compressed right now, having squeezed this trip into a week that was bursting at the seems from all the things not done last week due to Wings of Hope... which I still haven't even really written about!  Busy doesn't even come close to describing our little HQ right now.  Ang travels for work tomorrow through Tuesday, and I am scared of the late night feedings!  LOL.  Since Julian has been breast feeding, I have gotten a free pass on late night feeds, so here we go!

Alright.  Back to Wednesday.

The funeral mass.

Like I said, and the celebrant reiterated, the church was PACKED to the gills with people, some in black, many in red, and the most beautiful voice led the congregation in song throughout the mass.  Courtney asked Patrice and I to sit with her family which was truly an honor.  There were scripture verses, and a gospel reading, and a traditional sermon, but after communion, a certain Father Mark came up to the lectern to say a few words.  I was introduced to this most caring man before the mass, and I really felt his presence.  Ever been introduced to someone, and they don't really give off any energy your way, like they don't really care to be introduced?  Contrast that with the time(s) you've been introduced to someone and they immediately give their attention, energy, and listening to you... that's what it was like meeting Fr. Mark.

So, as the mass went on, I watched Fr. Mark, one of the four priests on the the altar.  He was so deep in prayer throughout, and so passionate in his faith.  It moved me.  He LOVES his faith, and he LOVES celebrating the mass... you can tell... AND he wasn't even the lead celebrant.  It just exuded from him in an honest, authentic way.

It was passion.

It was beautiful.

It was inspiring.

That's all before he even spoke.

Then, he spoke.

While the lead celebrant had a very reserved, measured tone and pace to his speaking, Fr. Mark LET IT RIP.

"MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS..." he began at a pace and volume twice as fast and loud.

He began to tell us about Moses, St. Paul, Mother Theresa, and others who were true disciples and the numbers of people they touched.  Then he spoke of Tripp in the same way.  As a true disciple of Christ who just the other day had 175,000 HITS on Courtney's blog.  NO joke.  When was the last time you hear a priest or minister quote hits on a blog from the pulpit?  It was awesome!  He made the very convincing case that Tripp has touched more people and brought more people into God's witness than any of the predecessors he mentioned... Tripp was in some impressive company!

The way he spoke made me proud of my Catholic heritage.  I grew up a devout Catholic, Jesuit educated, and while now I am a member of the progressive Christian Church - Disciples of Christ denomination, witnessing that passion for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ made me feel good.

Folks, this IS the transformative context to this entire journey.  The role God and his son Jesus have played in Ang's and my life, Courtney's life, Patrice's life... THAT is where we draw our strength from...

... and even still, we are often weak.  Often anxious.  Trying to do it our way, not His way.

But that's okay, too.

After Fr. Mark sat down, Courtney rose and headed to the pulpit.

The anticipation was palpable.  The tears began before she even made it onto the altar.  The tissues made noise throughout the congregation.

With a soft, often breaking voice, she spoke.  She shared from her heart, like she always does, and was as vulnerable and transparent as she always is.  She spoke to the audience, she spoke to Tripp, she cried her way through it, but stood strong (after standing strong for 2.5 hours receiving guests) through it all.  To say there wasn't a dry eye in the church is an understatement.  I was sitting in the center of the church, and I could physically feel the energy people were pouring out to her from all points in the church, to hold her up, to somehow soften the pain, to somehow give back what she had given them for so long through her blog and the tremendous example of unconditional love she was these past two years and 8 months.  It was beautiful.  It was sad.  It was heart wrenching.  It was divine.  I imagined God looking down with such a smile at his people, gathered so close together, worshiping so intensely side by side, loving like they had rarely loved before... and this was just what was happening in the church.



Then, when the mass ended, and we headed to the cemetery, the ripples of that love were seen by the roadside as people lined up to pay their respects, Elmos, signs, and flowers in hand.  It was just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen... the whole day from start to finish.  



Bella taught me about my Providence goggles so long ago.  Do you remember those?  When she was first born, I started seeing God in every situation we were facing.  He was right there with us.  I started blogging about it, calling it the Providence Story of the Day.   Three months later, an entire book had been written.  It was with these same goggles that I viewed this entire day from the moment I waited in line at the valet at my hotel to the moment my friend Maria stayed on the phone with me till 1:30 am our time while I drove the hour and 15 minute drive home from the airport.  God was there through it all.

Through It All by Andrae Crouch 

I've Had Many Tears And Sorrows,
I've Had Questions For Tomorrow,
There's Been Times I Didn't Know Right From Wrong.
But In Every Situation,
God Gave Me Blessed Consolation,
That My Trials Come To Only Make Me Strong.

Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.

Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.

I've Been To Lots Of Places,
I've Seen A Lot Of Faces,
There's Been Times I Felt So All Alone.
But In My Lonely Hours,
Yes, Those Precious Lonely Hours,
Jesus Lets Me Know That I Was His Own
Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.

Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.

I Thank God For The Mountains,
And I Thank Him For The Valleys,
I Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through.
For If I'd Never Had A Problem,
I Wouldn't Know That HE Could Solve Them,
I'd Never Know What Faith In God Could Do

Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.

Through It All,
Through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.

I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.



After the interment ceremony, we headed to the Knights of Columbus Hall for some good southern eatin'!  I hadn't eaten breakfast that morning... just didn't feel like eating, so I had worked up quite an appetite by the time we good to the KofC (NOT KFC, mind you...) at about 3:30 that afternoon.  Well, as I stood in front of the jambalaya, Lawton, Courtney's dad asked me, "You know what that is, Tim?"  I did, but the kicker was the white beans with meat in the tub next to it... "You gotta drizzle them white beans over that jamabalya..." sounded good to me!  So much so that I went in for seconds!  Patrice and I sat with Courtney and her absolute God-send of a boyfriend, Steven and we all broke bread... and King Cake (oh MAN was THAT good) together.  I could tell Courtney was exhausted by this point, but she was gracious throughout.  



As the crowd began to thin, it was time for me to make my trek back... 


across the lakes...  


to the airport...


and back to two sleeping kids that needed to be up in the morning for school and daycare... back to it... this unending journey of faith.

God night.


20 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this all with us. So glad that you were able to go. So glad that you are back safely. I love Tripp and Courtney, though I have never met them. God is/was so evident in them all and I am thankful for them.

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. As always so beautifully written

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  3. Holy Goosebumps again!!!!!!! I adore Fr. Mark! I thank God for your gift of truly expressing yourself through words that will touch others and truly describe the day. Fr. Mark spoke at one of the prayer rallies for Tripp back in July. He is such a dynamic speaker and you truly feel the spirit of Christ when in his presence. While giving me communion, he had tears in his eyes.... He LOVED Tripp as much as we all did and you can tell it while you are in his presence. THANK YOU again Tim. I am sharing the blog entries on my facebook page and I know several of my friends were thankful for your part 1 post and are awaiting this one. Oh and in regards to Providence.... While reading this, I am listing to Pandora and I'll Praise You in this Storm came on. Yes... Providence! Blessings to you and your family. Love in Christ!
    Sharee Wells
    Ponchatoula, LA

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  4. Thank you SO much for sharing this, Tim. I told Patrice (via Facebook) that one of my prayers for that day was that God would be glorified. It's so evident that He was. Tripp and Courtney have touched so many of us - their faith was (is) truly amazing. And it's so neat that you were able to be there to encourage Courtney and her family.

    I truly believe Bella and Tripp are having a grand ol' time together at the feet of Jesus, with lots of smiles and lots of drums!

    Praying for you and all the Ringgolds this week and am excited to hear about Wings of Hope when you're ready to share.

    Love from TX,
    Laura (for the Team)

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  5. Thank you. Could not stop crying throughout. This is my home town and people and so I could see faces as you mentioned names (other than your family). I love my church back home and the people. You were blessed, and seems you know it, by being let into their lives. Thank you for posting. It helps with the healing process for all, including you.

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  6. Thank you Tim!!!!
    So very, very considerate of you to share the experience with this community.

    So love seeing Bella's photos at the end of your posts. Sometimes it hits me and I'm sad but more often I love seeing that beautiful smiling face! Kim

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  7. Tim - I need PUCK's address to send a check please! Kim

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  8. That flower arrangement blows my mind.
    I love the picture of you, Courtney, and Patrice. So much comfort in it. I'm gonna find some Elmo socks for you ...
    And Bella makes me smile.
    Just my thoughts. :)
    (good luck flying solo. Maybe J will sleep all night!!)

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  9. Thank you so much for sharing your experience for those of us who couldn't be there in person. Continued prayers for Courtney and her family as they mourn the loss of Tripp.

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  10. Thank-you for your detailed account of Tripp's funeral and events. It was like I was there! Living in Wisconsin, going wasn't a possibility. But my thoughts and prayers that whole day were focused on the families and children touched by this awful disease. Blessings to you and your family!

    Teri

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  11. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing. Your words helped me to feel like I was there.. God Bless You!
    Lisa from Dothan,AL

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  13. Thanks Tim.

    Thank you.

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  14. Without people like you Tim this world would be so much colder and uglier. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. Thank you Tim for sharing this moment.I thinking of Courtney a lot ...
    You wrote in your always special way, so moving, so inspiring ...
    Lots of love,
    Mariana,UK

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  16. Thank you for sharing the day. I can only imagine how difficult the day was you as well. Many gentle thoughts to YOUR family as well.

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  17. Hi Tim: Thanks so much for sharing your trip. Oh, how I wanted to be there. I will meet Courtney and her amazing family someday, I just know I will. It is just something I have to do. Leah and Tripp had the same type of this awful disease, so sadly we have that in common. Sad day for everyone.
    Still love looking at the beautiful pictures of beautiful Bella. Take care my friend. Love and Peace Leah and Tabby's Nana

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  18. Hi, Tim...

    I've been trying to comment for a few days now, and for some reason I couldn't. But here I am now! Please know how much I appreciate your recounting the details of what was such a difficult - and yet special - day for so many. What a beautiful gift that you and your fellow EB'ers gave to Courtney and her family by coming to support her and to show your love. I have been so touched by the ourpouring of compassion. Thank you so much for sharing. And I love Andrae Crouch and the perfect lyrics in "Through It All"...an oldie but the message reamains true!

    Be blessed, sweet family...

    Susan
    A friend in NC

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  19. I have followed your blog as well as Patrice & Courtney's for a long time now. As a result, we donate a small part of every paycheck to DebRA. I was so thankful that you and Patrice were able to make it to Tripp's service. While I cannot imagine how horrible losing your beautiful Bella was, I so badly wanted you to be there for Courtney. Thank you for taking the time and resources out of your busy and full life to support Courtney.

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