Rollercoaster

Well, the past week has been full of all kinds of emotions-good and bad. I just returned from vacation (which was great!), but I was also still dealing with the loss of Tyler Carver.

I realize I didn't write much last week, but I was really overcome with grief and still am. I feel very ignorant in how to deal with such a painful and tragic loss so I wasn't quite sure what to do.

I, personally, have been deeply impacted by this 16 year old's life when I saw what a mature man of God he already had become. Tyler's viewing was overwhelming with the unbelievable amount of people who came to show their respects and his funeral was even more amazing. Probably over 2000 people were in attendance to give honor to such a wonderful kid. A former teacher/coach, aunt, and best friend spoke and shared funny and heart-wrenching memories about Tyler. It was encouraging yet terribly painful.

As a teacher, I hated seeing all of those students there with their heads hanging so low in pain and confusion. I hated to see that basketball team and track team having to endure such loss of a fellow teammate. I hated to see 16 year old boys carry the burden of being pall bearers for their best friend.

But, I was amazed and joyous to see the impact Tyler had already made on fellow classmates, teammates, and, even more amazingly, on his teachers. His former track coach said it so well... "as teachers, we are supposed to have an impact on students... but every once in a while, a student impacts us... and Tyler was that kid."

It's such a mix of emotions. If any teenage kid thinks their decisions don't matter and they can't change anybody, they are sadly mistaken. Tyler impacted people by being the steady, friendly, Christ-like young man that everyone needs in their life. My old youth pastor always told us to be "Jesus with skin on"... and that seems to be the perfect description of Tyler.

I hope his parents, Hugh and Nona, know and realize how well they did at raising their son and how he was truly growing and becoming an unbelievable man of God. He learned from the best.

www.tylercarver.org