Very Well Written, Love the Title…Thank You Forrest
Of all the money that e’er I spent
I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e’er I’ve done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To memory now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.
Oh all the comrades that e’er I’ve had
Are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve had
Would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all.
“The Parting Glass”
I started my day today with tears in my eyes.
Not that it’s all that unusual for me to cry.
I’ve said it often:
I cry when I write, and I write when I cry.
So here I am again.
I borrowed the lyrics above from a blog post I read first thing this morning. The opening of a longer essay titled The Final Flash from the blogger’s website called Flashes of the Obvious.
The Final Flash was posted January 8, 2018 and written by a friend of mine.
I wrote about that friend back in September.
You may remember.
My friend who was a decorated national hero, a writer, a historian, an engineer, a pillar of his church, a father, and a husband…
My friend, who was as in Matthew 25:21, a good and faithful servant … who was set over many things, and while on this earth, had entered into the joy of the Lord, to the benefit of many of us.
My friend who had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
When I wrote my essay inspired by his story I made it his decision as to whether I would use his name, and his response was “It doesn’t need my name attached to be effective.”
But you should know his name.
The inspiration for that essay was man named Forrest Snyder.
In life Forrest taught many of us many things. He was always encouraging to me as I began to share my writing publicly.
In fact the very first comment that I received on my very first post Three Score and Counting on my website, was from Forrest:
“Very well written. Love the title. Welcome to the blogosphere.”
As time went on he often commented on my essays and I always appreciated the feedback.
Forrest Snyder entered into the joy of his Lord, this time for the everlasting, on the morning of January 14, 2018; six days after posting The Final Flash.
Very well written my friend; love the title…we will miss you.
But now you can rest Forrest, there is no need to struggle anymore. Breathe deeply now and fill your new lungs with Heaven’s breath.
Rest in peace. Those that knew you will have many memories to carry you with them.
And through your written words you may continue to influence those who didn’t have the opportunity to meet you.
So if you didn’t know Forrest, I encourage you to visit Flashes of the Obvious from time to time and read.
I particularly encourage you to read The Final Flash.
And finally, when it’s all over and I rest again in the arms of my Heavenly Father, to do so secure in the knowledge that I used every gift and opportunity He gave me to its fullest. (from Man With a Mission, by Forrest Snyder)
Thank you Forrest.
Memorial donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.