On August 12 my best friend, James Weging, lost his six year battle with Leukemia. His family asked me to give the eulogy at his funeral mass. I wish to share it now on here.
James was
amazing and gifted at many things from athletics to the arts. But one thing James was never good at was
answering his phone. Most of the time I
would just text or call Sara because I knew she would answer. I'm mentioning
this because for those of us who would call James are all to familiar with his
voice mail message: "You have reached the one and only James W.
Weging." He really was the one and
only.
James was a very unique individual
who was created in the image and likeness of God.
There was nothing normal or average about
him.
Everything he did was unique
including: his sense of fashion.
Only
James could pull off wearing a bright yellow jacket with a top hat to
parties.
His dance skills were also very
unique.
For those of us who attended
school dances or even out at the clubs James would regularly bust out his
famous dance move...the bus driver.
Of
course James was also unique in his music.
James did more than just play the piano...he brought life to his
music.
James put his whole heart, body,
and soul into his music and made it come alive in a way that I can't properly
describe to you.
James took classical
music, which is not very popular today, and made it exciting to listen to.
James was ready to change the world through
his music. Another unique quality of
James was his ability to make people laugh.
Last night as I was swopping stories and memories of James with friends
and family there was not one story that didn't end in laughter.
James knew when it was time to be serious but
he always knew there was time to laugh.
And the last, and most important, piece of James that is unique was his
ability to love.
James loved with his
whole heart.
I say this is the most
important because St. Paul tells us "the greatest gift is love."
Without love, St. Paul tells us, we are
nothing.
James was certainly
something.
It was James ability to love
that made him such an amazing guy.
I
know that every single person in this Church was touched in at least one
positive way by James.
I know my life
changed for the better because of him.
James truly modeled his life after Jesus Christ and remained strong in
his faith his whole life.
This past
Christmas when James was in the hospital I asked what he wanted me to get him
for Christmas.
He told me he wanted the
Eucharist.
James understood that it was
Christ alone that could save him and he relied on Christ to comfort him.
James knew that the message of the Gospel is
to love and James loved every single one of us each and every day.
James is not with us here on earth any more
and we will all miss him and his sense of humor very much. But I know that St. James is watching from
that heavenly kingdom and I will be praying for his intercession and that I can
live my life as he did and love as he loved. Yes James W. Weging, you are the
one and only. A unique, special,
talented, trustworthy, loving individual who was created in God's image and
likeness. I saw God every time I saw and
spoke to James and I know that St. James will continue to strengthen my
relationship with God. Let us all pray
for James to intercede for us and continue to make us laugh as we recall the
wacky and fun memories he has made possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment