April 13, 2012

Rick Shaw

Pfc. Rick Shaw, age 20, died on March 24, 2012, at Fort Carson, Colorado. 

He was off duty at the time of his death. An autopsy has revealed that Rick died of alcohol poisoning. 

Rick is survived by his mother, his siblings and many special and deeply loving friends who are mentioned in his obituary. 

The fact that Rick died of alcohol poisoning does not diminish his life nor the tragedy of his death. 

Every year, tens of thousands of people die world-wide from drug or alcohol related misadventures. They make a mistake and they die from it. 

People in general, and often Christians, are so willing to turn back blame to the victim. 

Who will cast the first
stone?
For instance, it has been reported in medical journals that people who have lung cancer are often treated poorly at hospitals because.......wait for it....."They brought it on themselves". As if their life had been summed up by their smoking and their death was their own fault and therefore get lost and too bad. 

God save us from attitudes like this. Where is the compassion in this world? Where is the mercy? 

Christians are often most guilty of "casting the first stone" against others. Christians follow Jesus, but are often not like Jesus at all and don't even try to be. 

Jesus, pray for Rick
God help us to change.  Amen. 

Pray for Rick Shaw.  He made a mistake.  He was only a boy, after all. 

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Rick Shaw is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

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