I moved to a different department at work about two months ago. Generally, the cross functional parts related to each team in the department all sit within the same space. I met everyone on my new team besides the person that sat right next to me. He was in our MLP(Merchandising Leadership Program), which is the route one would take to get into merchandising, and his temporary seat was with my new team since he was learning our business. Apparently, he was offsite taking classes. The following week I came in the office, they had taken his name plate down and were going to move him to a different seat. A cross functional part we lacked got promoted to my team so we needed her to sit around us and that's why they moved him.
I just got back from Atlanta on a mini vacation and prior to leaving, the MLP associate stopped by my desk to see me. He said he just wanted to introduce himself since he was out when I came onboard. We chatted for a short time, he told me a little about his background and so did I. I thanked him for taking time out to come see me, and he went on his way. Yesterday, while working, an email came through announcing the passing of an associate. I looked at the email confused, read it, and was left in a more confused state. I knew that name very well but I was hoping it was not who I thought it was. I turned around and asked one of my colleagues who the email was referring to and my fear was confirmed! He was the one, the MLP associate! I was dazed.
Apparently, the day after I went on vacation, he got out of work that day a little late preparing for a presentation the next day. He was perfectly okay when he went home. He went to bed that night and never woke up the next morning. According to what I heard, he was breathing on his own but had no brain activity and that was his condition until he passed the day before the email was sent.
Several things ran through my mind when I turned back around to look at my computer. How fragile is this life? This to me brings relationships into perspective. How do we manage them? And what message are we passing across? What if that message good or bad is the last message? There are no do-overs, once this life on earth is over. I appeal to you as you read this to take inventory of your life. Make every wrong right, follow your dreams, and get to know God.
I thanked God for His Grace and managed to continue my work. My prayers are with his family. May they find comfort in Christ.
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