Saturday, Doug and I had the privilege of attending the funeral of a friend of ours from our previous church in Princeton. I chose the word “privilege” because you only get to meet a man like Bill Burks once in your lifetime, if you’re lucky. The church was bursting at the seams with people as if it were Easter Sunday and this man was just shy of 92 when he passed—which shows you how many lives he touched in the Princeton community.

Each of his four children stood before the congregation sharing story after story of what a great man he was—which we thought we already knew, but there was so much more to learn about this pillar in our community. Our priest, who is always amazing at delivering a eulogy or sermon that hits home, told the story of “A mighty redwood fell today,” as he described Bill. This was the perfect metaphor.

Why am I sharing the story of a memorial service of someone you probably don’t even know? Because how we act matters! Who we reach out to and help matters! Bill Burks left a legacy that impacted countless lives because he lived with purpose, integrity, and compassion. His life was a testament to the power of making a difference—he chose to live the life of a mighty redwood—and we can, too. And as Father Paul said, imagining what Bill might say, “I see a lot of redwoods right here in this church.” You and I are redwoods. We may not be as mighty as Bill yet—we’re still growing. But we have the potential to stand tall and make a difference.

Go be a redwood. Bill would be proud because the world needs more redwoods. And I hope that when you and I take your last breath, someone says, “A mighty redwood fell today.”

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!

Beth