A tribute to my friend.

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.  

 Requiescat in pace.

Chicken Anyone?

It was a few weeks ago while I was on Facebook that I became aware of the most recent Chick-fil-A debate. I was confused at first as to what was going on because of certain meme's I saw (such as the one posted below). After I researched what was going on I thought it was funny the few people that were making, what I thought at the time to be, a big deal out of something very small. Boy was I wrong! The days following put this event at the top of the media charts! Government officials threatening to ban the restaurants from expanding, boycotts, and overwhelming support both for and against the fast food chain. I couldn't believe what came from this one mans personal opinion.

One of the government officials that came out swinging against Chick-fil-A was Chicago's own mayor who threatened to end the companies business in Chicago saying "their values are not 'Chicago values'." Our beloved Archbishop Cardinal George addressed the mayors comments in a blog post that also made the local news (to which of course the mayor did not respond). Cardinal George asked the simple question "since when does the government get to decide my value system?"

What still confuses me is why we are all fighting over who to blame for this controversy. Do we blame Mr. Cathy (CEO of Chick-fil-A)? Do we blame the entire Chick-fil-A corporation? Or do we blame our government? Why do we need to blame anyone? What is there to assign blame for? All a man did was speak his mind. Why is there a need to feel like protesting and boycotting and even celebrating the fact that a man had the courage to share his opinion?! What that says to me is we live in a society where people are afraid to speak their mind.

I have always been a "loud mouth" and my father is always quick to remind me. I always speak my mind and share my opinions. But seeing how the country has reacted to this recent announcement has caused me to think that speaking your mind isn't normal. I say this because of the debates and arguments that have come from Mr. Cathy taking a public stance on the definition of marriage. The names he has been called, the attacks on his business, the support of his business, and the political questioning are just mind boggling to me. Mr. Cathy probably had no idea how much his words would impact the nation and his company.

Personally, I applaud Mr. Cathy! Not just for his stance on the definition of marriage but for his courage to speak his mind and stand strong in his beliefs! All of the Saints, especially martyrs, we're not afraid to speak their mind and they shared Christ's Gospel to all the people's that they met! We are called to be Saints! We are called to be Christ like to all those we come in contact with. I pray that we may all have the courage of the Saints and of Mr. Cathy to stand strong in our beliefs so that we, as Catholics, can better the world we live in.