I've always thought of Catfish as Dumbledore. Or Obi-Wan. He loved both series. I still remember the night he stayed up until the wee hours reading the newest Harry Potter. I remember him dressing up as a Jedi the countless times he did. He played Gandalf in one of the most epic wide games I ever remember playing. He led us in a fight to save Narnia. He told us stories. Made us act them out. Everything he did was to teach us. He taught us with homilies, with campfire reflections, with music. But he also taught us through how he lived his life. To not take things too serious. To laugh. To be inappropriate. To live on the edge. He taught us how to suffer. How to handle severe illness with grace, humour, and even fear. Because he is our mentor and that is what mentors do. He is Dumbledore. He is Obi-Wan.
And like in many of our great stories, our mentors also teach us through death. I remember really realizing the next step in Catfish's journey last Easter. On Holy Thursday when we pray like Jesus asked his disciples to pray in the garden. I remember asking that "this cup be passed" for Catfish. And I remember thinking straight after, he has to die doesn't he.
And what a series our great stories would be if death was the end. Dumbledore dies. The end. Obi wan dies. The end. Jesus is crucified. The end. But it never ends there. The story moves on. We grieve. We hurt. We suffer. Our mentor is dead. How can we possibly move on? Catfish wouldn't have been a good mentor if it all ended here for us. If he didn't prepare us to continue to fight. What has he gained, what has his fight been worth if we give up now? If the story ends here?
"It's going to be alright sir," Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore's silence than he had been by his weakened voice..."I'm not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you."
Darth Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.
Obi-Wan: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
Luke: I can't do it, R2. I can't go on alone.
Obi-wan: Yoda and I will always be with you.
Darth Vader: Obi Wan has taught you well.
Our story doesn't end here. Catfish's story doesn't end here. Today we grieve. Our leader, our friend, our mentor, our brother has died. Today we tell stories. Today we cry until we think all our tears have dried up and then we cry some more.
Tomorrow we stand up, dust off our sandals, and carry on. Maybe with a little bit of a limp in our step. Like a toe that's been bitten off on a monster hunt. But we continue our fight. We are Catfish's army, and there still is a lot of work left to do. I love you all. Praying for you all. God is love. Amen.
And like in many of our great stories, our mentors also teach us through death. I remember really realizing the next step in Catfish's journey last Easter. On Holy Thursday when we pray like Jesus asked his disciples to pray in the garden. I remember asking that "this cup be passed" for Catfish. And I remember thinking straight after, he has to die doesn't he.
And what a series our great stories would be if death was the end. Dumbledore dies. The end. Obi wan dies. The end. Jesus is crucified. The end. But it never ends there. The story moves on. We grieve. We hurt. We suffer. Our mentor is dead. How can we possibly move on? Catfish wouldn't have been a good mentor if it all ended here for us. If he didn't prepare us to continue to fight. What has he gained, what has his fight been worth if we give up now? If the story ends here?
"It's going to be alright sir," Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore's silence than he had been by his weakened voice..."I'm not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you."
Darth Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.
Obi-Wan: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
Luke: I can't do it, R2. I can't go on alone.
Obi-wan: Yoda and I will always be with you.
Darth Vader: Obi Wan has taught you well.
Our story doesn't end here. Catfish's story doesn't end here. Today we grieve. Our leader, our friend, our mentor, our brother has died. Today we tell stories. Today we cry until we think all our tears have dried up and then we cry some more.
Tomorrow we stand up, dust off our sandals, and carry on. Maybe with a little bit of a limp in our step. Like a toe that's been bitten off on a monster hunt. But we continue our fight. We are Catfish's army, and there still is a lot of work left to do. I love you all. Praying for you all. God is love. Amen.