saying goodbye to doug

It's snowing now. Just a few hours ago - this time yesterday in fact, it was sunny and pushing the mid-fifties. But now it's snowing and cold. Some people at the store this morning were complaining. Many had to change their plans. They'd enjoyed a few unusually warm and sunny Kentucky winter days this week, and planned for a few more. But now it's snowing.

Life is good for me now. I enjoy my work with the Governor's office; I have a lot of loyal, fun and honorable friends; the two most beautiful, talented and smart kids in the entire world call me daddy; I am awarded the grace of a loving God who believes in me. Life is good.

I woke up one morning this week to the same terrible and tragic news that you did. One of Christian music's most talented musicians, friends and believers stepped away from us. Had we known that Tuesday would be so sad we might have laughed a little more on Monday. Had we known, we'd probably have made one more call before bed. Had we known, surely we would've done something different, something at least to try and either prepare for the loss or avoid it all together. We wanted Doug Riley to stay with us. Had we known...

All of those people pushing their carts and whining about the weather had the luxury of a forecast. They had plenty of time to adjust their agendas. It was unreasonable to think that winter weather wouldn't show up in the winter. Complaining may have given them a sense of release, but the plows are still pushing snow to the side and spreading salt down the middle. The warmer days were a midwinter treat indeed, but putting the boots and shovels away was not ideal. Maybe they wouldn't have, had they known.

I didn't get to go to Doug's funeral. Another friend here in Kentucky said good-bye this week too. I was at his funeral. We had lots of time to plan for his passing though. He'd been very ill for quite a while. The news of his death was not unexpected. As sad as it was, it seemed much more natural and not nearly as difficult to believe. The thought of someone as alive as Doug, playing the drums or manning the mixing board or cracking a joke, taken so abruptly has left us all numb. The family of my friend in Kentucky had the luxury of a pretty reliable forecast. The family of my friend in Alabama did not.

It's still snowing. The forecast says it will for the next couple of days at least. But even if the experts told us differently, it's still winter in Kentucky - we might as well plan for it.