Loss...

This week has been kind of rough after a series of rough weeks. On Tuesday morning I sat down at my desk and my phone rang. It was someone from another SF office wanting to know if one of my agents had been shot. My first thought was someone has there story mixed up b/c there is no way this could have happened to Jim. After making some phone calls, I had to be the one to break it to his office staff. I don't think I've ever prayed so hard for God to give me the peace and understanding that I'm still struggling to grasp hold of even today after his funeral.

You see, Jim was a devout member of the Nazarene Church. He hosted a Wed AM Bible Study, he was music minister, and he sang and played the trombone for the Men's Chorus. He was on the board at Trevecca among many other things. For those who know Jim, they could all say this is the very last person you would ever expect this from. I just talked and joked around with him last Thursday at a meeting. He lit up the room and never knew a stranger.

The really difficult part of this is he never left a note. He got up Tuesday morning, told his wife he was going outside to read and a few minutes later she heard the shot. He had been perfectly normal and never lead anyone even his wife that something was wrong. This makes it so hard to grasp and to become a reality b/c you can't seem to find closure when there are no signs of stress or a problem.

My heart is breaking and saddened by his loss. I've woken up in the early hours of the morning this week just praying for God to give me understanding as to why something like this would happen! The joy's of working at State Farm though are that we are one big family. Most of my Agents knew I was working to get his office straightened out as well as getting phone call after phone call but what really has struck me throught it all are the endless emails and calls wanting to make sure I was still sticking in there! We've terminated Agents, had Agents quit, but nothing compares to a loss like this one. It makes every little thing, every little email, and every little conversation with his team members more real.

I ask that you pray for my State Farm "Family" that God places that peace and understanding in our hearts that I know he gives!