It was an honor full of joy and sadness to celebrate and say goodbye to Taylor Stephen Ward tonight.
Taylor was a young man with abounding compassion and love, complex struggles and demons, and effervescent virtue and grace.
The line of visitation went out the sanctuary doors, the lobby doors, and spilled onto the streets. The front parking lot, the back parking lot and the side streets were lined with cars. The church pews, the balcony and the overflow seats in the lobby were full at Brookdale Covenant Church.
For a young man who struggled to know that he was loved, but had un-ending compassion for others, his story is made complete in the lives he touched and the stories he left implanted in the hearts of others.
There were hundreds of people there trying to find a way to make goodbye make sense. And yet, in the tragedy of the moment it all made sense. It makes sense sometimes why the hardest thing you could ever want to hear, has to be heard, has to be felt deep in your gut and your heart. The loss of Taylor to so many people who didn’t know Jesus before tonight, went home believing that they shared a Journey with you, and it led you back to the one who loves you infinitely.
As pastor Steve said, you are finally free. Normal, never, but free forever.
Countless people had their story changed because of you.
Posted in Family | 1 Comment
Jere-THis is such a precious honor for Taylor. I can’t wait to here stories some day about those who came to know Jesus for the first time as we celebrated Taylor’s life. He IS finally at peace and now experiences God’s perfect love for the first time No judgement, no shame, just love and peace. Taylor, you will be missed beyond belief. I will miss you forever until we see each other in heaven. Thanks again Jere for honoring Taylor in this way.
love, sarah