December 31, 2007 by Joel Miller.

many of you know that i turned 26 on december 29th. it has always been busy and crazy having a birthday in the same week as christmas, but it has come to be something i quite enjoy. but this birthday was unique…it didn’t feel like any other i’ve had.

when jay asked me if i’d help his small groups move some boxes and furniture from a storage unit to an apartment for a lady in the church, my initial reaction (in a whiny, fully sarcastic tone) was “but it’s my birthday”. but needless to say, i was happy to help. i’ve been on a break for the whole week and frankly, i was starting to get bored.

what we expected to be a 2 hour move turned into a 5 hour move, but it’s WHY we were doing it that made it so interesting. we were moving boxes for a lady from the church that has been blessed by the efforts of some tirelessly selfless people. she was homeless, due to some very bad circumstances and some bad decisions leading up. she was living in her car, trying to find a job and get her feet back on the ground. and she wasn’t getting very far on her own.

then, she started getting help. she was encouraged and listened to openly by members of our church. then, somebody found her a job. then, an apartment. THIS was the apartment we were moving her into. so box by box, we were helping a broken person find hope.

finding hope is really what we’re all about, so it was a pleasure in so many ways. the story isn’t over…we have more to do. if you’re from murray hill and you’re reading this, get ready because you might well be enlisted to do what you do best… but for me, what better way to spend a birthday–by giving rather than receiving? unintentionally, i realized that i have more than i could ever want, and that my time was best spent in a team effort to rebuild the life of somebody who has been beaten and broken by a cruel world.

in fact, it’s about the best birthday i can remember.

—–

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

-John 21:15 (NIV)

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December 27, 2007 by Joel Miller.

i got the news on 12/25 at about 9:00 pm…and it was very sad news indeed. kim alford lost her struggle with liver/colon cancer on the morning of christmas day, leaving behind her son (AJ) and her husband (Alister). i’m not sure, but i believe aj was about 11 years old.

it doesn’t seem fair, and it surely doesn’t seem right. it’s times like these that make me doubt. because kim alford did nothing but good. she was an overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging person and worked a job that made a difference in the lives of others. she was a true difference-maker, and orange park high school will never be the same without her. neither will AJ or Alister. and it’s not fair.

i wish i had a good answer for it. i wish i could have some sagely perspective, but death is an issue i’m still very novice in dealing with. i’m sad, then i’m angry, then i just sort of deal with it. and i’ll be fine. i knew and loved kim, but i didn’t know her nearly as well as veterans at orange park, or much moreso, her family.

i do know one thing. kim died without many regrets, because she lived her life knowing that each day was precious. she made a difference NOW, because later was no guarantee.

perhaps the finest tribute i can pay to her is to live my life the same way.

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