The Death of a Good Man

Apropos of my last post, here is an obituary of Billy Raftery, a man I never knew, but a friend of Francis Beckwith, of What's Wrong with the World.

William Paul "Billy" Raftery, 57, of Las Vegas, a loving son, brother and uncle, passed away suddenly May 27, 2009. He was born May 22, 1952, in Norfolk, Va., and was a 45-year resident of Las Vegas. Billy was employed as a room service waiter at Bally's Las Vegas since 1973, and was on duty during the 1980 MGM Grand fire. Although he graduated from Valley High School in 1971, he was a true-blue Bishop Gorman Gael. Billy was honored for his loyal support to the

If hope fails, is nothing left but to make the final cut?

Bishop Gorman Athletic Department as the equipment manager for the football, basketball and baseball teams from 1979 through 2001. Billy's devotion to the Gaels did not end with the sports he managed, his passion for everything orange and blue emanated from him. His attendance at every Gorman sporting event possible never faltered. The two things that were most important to Billy were Gorman and his family....Billy, you've touched all of our lives and will be deeply missed. We love you "Soulman."

Beckwith writes:

I forgot to mention that Billy was born mentally challenged. But, you see, it really did not matter, since Billy was more than the sum total of his parts. He was, and is, a person made in the image of God. He lived a good life, and for that, we are all better off for having known him and having witnessed the example he set for his community.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual Light shine upon him; may his soul and all souls, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

I never knew Mr. Raftery.  But I hope I will someday.

I wonder what suprises will we see when we have pierced the veil and walk on the other side of eternity.  Whose voices of love will we hear for the first time, because we considered silence more humane than the sound sobbing, presuming that pain cannot strengthen hearts.

If we are so impoverished as to think that that tragedies are curses, inescapable and inevitable, and can never be transformed into blessings, to what purpose is endurance? To what purpose is hope?

Yes, the world, and its people, are broken.  Some may think that we can remake the world anew.  But we do not have that kind of transformative power.  We can only remove or conceal our flaws, but this is not life, but death by a thousand small amputations.  And when we are honest with our brokenness, where does the incision end?  If hope fails, is nothing left but to make the final cut?

Can we live by suicide?

"Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."

-Ecclesiastes 7:3

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any pain: for the former things are passed away.

And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

-Revelation 21:4-5.