Jeff Allen's Weblog

Fans More Than Make My Day

Today is Wednesday, and I am just beginning to get back to my normal state of affairs, you know, hitting golf balls and napping. Family Fest with the Gaithers was this past weekend, and I had a blast. I have to tell you that one of the fans made my weekend on the first night when she showed up at my table with not one, but two Portillo’s beef sandwiches, with sweet peppers. I know, doesn’t sound like much; but to a Chicago boy, it was a little bit of heaven. Now if we can get the Cubs into the series, I believe I will be scanning the skies for the four horsemen.

I have more to say, but I am a little crunched for time right now. I will post more on Family Fest very soon. I just can’t thank the people enough for their encouragement and compassion. Thanks. God’s Peace.  -Jeff

The Risks We Take

I have been on the go for the past three weeks, Canada, Arizona, California, and Alabama. Taped a television show in Los Angeles, the Byron Allen show called “Comics Unleashed.” I will let you all know when it is aired. I thank you all for the encouraging emails you have sent over the past few weeks; it means a lot.

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this morning. This past week my two sons lost a dear friend to a climbing accident. This was a kid that we watched grow up in our home on most weekends; one of four kids who used to hang with our sons. Between Boy Scout trips and hiking the Appalachian trail together, they were inseparable - until college started two years ago. The funeral was this past weekend and over 30 young adults came over, built a bonfire in the backyard, ate Oreos and drank Apple juice (Austin’s favorite on camping trips), and told stories about their friend.

Death is like hitting the pause button in our lives; it is a time to reflect on our priorities, our relationships with friends and families. The paradox is that those are also the things that we take most for granted, as if they are going to be there forever.

I was given a blessing two years ago when my Mother took ill - as she passed my sisters and I were by her bedside for the last three weeks of her life. All that needed to be said got said. There seemed to be a natural order to this, however sad. There didn’t seem to be a sense of injustice to it.

When a young person dies, it is those of us left behind that have to wrestle with the thought that the universe doesn’t play fair, and who or what is responsible for it. As a Christian, I am to believe that God is sovereign over all that is earth. I am not educated enough to know what all that entails, but I cannot allow myself to believe that my God was responsible for this death. There are certain risks in this life and while this death was a tragic accident, when a person climbs a 1600 foot glacier, there is a larger risk than most.

With that said, my scripture says that God will somehow weave this tragedy into something good. How, I don’t know, but this is where my faith comes in. For now, I will leave the pause button on, and hug my boys for a few seconds longer than normal. God’s Peace be with all of you.