To Be Greatly Missed: Tom Zacharia

Three missed calls. Picking up my phone at 15:52 on Thursday afternoon (June 24, 2010), I cheerfully answered my dear friend, Karim Hassan’s fourth attempt to contact me. The message on the other end, however, was not expected. Details were vague, my memory clouded. Something about a treadmill, and…Tom Zacharia---passed away. Blindsided by life’s brevity. Struck by death’s reality.

As Tom’s youth group leader and more importantly, friend, I treasured his presence and wisdom. No, not the intelligence which earned him a 4.0+ GPA in the classroom, but rather, his wisdom which sought to live life in a way that counted…in a manner which impacted lives. His wit, humor, passion, and love earned him a place in hearts. His early departure at seventeen years old has left a void in our lives. In one word, Tom was extraordinary.

And now, as we pick up the pieces, the fragments of our torn hearts, where is our hope? Many find the words of The Roots to echo their questioning spirit. "Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you, dear God, I see your face in all I do. Sometimes, it's so hard to believe you. But God, I know you have your reasons. I know I'm thinking out loud, but if your love's still around, why do we suffer? Why do we suffer?"

At times like these, it is right to question, to search for answers, and to ache for the presence of a lost friend. Yet it is these very times that remind us of our reality. We are mortal beings. As Solomon the prophet aptly noted, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

Yet Tom, being a believer in Jesus Christ, knew there was more to the story. In that same chapter, Solomon also reminds us, “God has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” (3:11) We were not created merely for time, but for eternity. We were created to last forever. Whether our life entails seventeen years, or seventy, each day is gift from God. A day by which we may (by faith) better understand His love through experiencing God’s ultimate gift, Jesus. Sometimes God speaks through the joy of life, and sometimes through the megaphone of pain. To answer the question of the song, perhaps it is God’s very love which allows us to experience loss and heartache so we can be reminded that life is for more than eating and drinking---rather, it is humanity’s opportunity to know their God. The Jesus Tom embraced said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Tom was loved with an “everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) He now can experience that love in full measure.

 As much as I’m tempted to question God for taking my dear brother Tom’s life so early on (according to our perception), I’m forever blessed that I got to call Tom Zacharia, “friend.”

Living in Egypt, the phrase “inshallah” (God willing) has become deeply embedded into our minds, yet what truth it portrays as we reflect life. James tells us, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’” (James 4:13-14) Tom had plans…for university, his major (sorry, his triple-major), and occupation. But Thursday concluded Tom’s race towards eternity. How easily we make our plans and plan our lives, yet forget our mortality? How often we forget life’s most important question?

Are you prepared for your step into eternity? As the author of Hebrews reminds us, “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Jesus Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And Jesus will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28) This life is about more than solely existing. We were created to love. To love God and to know Him. Not by compulsion, but by choice. Tom’s life had a purpose. Your life has a purpose.

Though the tears continue to fall and with my heart still aching, my eyes fall on I Corinthians 15: 55-57. “‘O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Tom, love you brother! 

(Dedicated to my dear friend, Tom Zacharia)

Going Green (Robert Green, that is)

The world’s biggest stage. Over a billion eyes glued to the action. A mere grass pitch. Twenty-two men. A place where heroes are birthed, legends established, and goats created. 

On Saturday night, my eyes were two of the billion-plus focused on the highly heated, hotly contested, star-studded match between England and the United States of America. The names emblazoned on jerseys reminded viewers of the magnitude of the match. Rooney, Donovan, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Crouch, Altidore, Howard, Dempsey. Yet one name stole the show. Robert Green. 

Understand this about me. As a Senegalese/American, my football allegiances lie with Senegal, other West African teams, and France. That said, when watching any match/game/meet, I have a tendency to root for the underdog or the largely unrepresented fan presence. Thus, when I entered a sports club in Larnaca (Cyprus) on Saturday night full of British fans clad in their colors, my lot as the biggest USA fan in the joint was confirmed. Ok, so I was the only one. 

Though sporting the colors of Senegal, my accent and skin tone identified me as an American and thus, the enemy of the night. The next ninety minutes contained threats to my well-being (no exaggeration)  iif the USA was to win, along with the constant flow of incessant vulgar and explicit language directed at every player, fan, and play. There were also the creative remarks of “You stole our language, you misspell our words, and now &)^@%9-7$!#^@. ..” Ah, sports.  Please note, I love the British and if I had been watching this game in the USA, I would have been rooting for the English, for the sake of creating rivalry. But this all revealed a fact of life and a lesson to be learned.

In the 40th minute of the match, everything changed. A script which destined one unwillingly for the pages of sports history. With the English leading one-nil, Clint Dempsey of the USA unleashed a 25 yard strike directly at keeper Robert Green. What ensued was a moment of dread for every Anglo-Saxon. With history being written, the ball was mishandled escaping the grip of Green’s gloves and rolled gently into the open net providing the “Yanks” all they needed for the draw. The blunder etched Green’s name beside legends such as David Seaman, Scott Carson, and Paul Robinson who are remembered agonizing moments on the pitch.

Since that infamous (can you call something “infamous” which happened but a week ago?) day, Green has asked Brits and fans worldwide for forgiveness. Facebook groups are emerging out of the woodwork with hundreds of thousands of members, such as, “That awkward moment when Robert Green asks you to play catch with him”, "I can catch... LOL jk I'm Robert Green”, or "My computer's got the Robert Green virus. It can't save anything." One group, entitled, "I forgive Robert Green" has but a few thousand members. Yet what deeper lesson is embedded in this account?

Forgiveness is a lost art in society and in our world. We seek an object of blame. The last thing we want to relinquish is our pride. In the very beginning of time, when Adam was questioned by God, he immediately passed the blame on to the Eve, even implicating God in the blame with his notation, “the woman YOU gave to be with me.” (Genesis 3:12) When Eve was questioned, she immediately pointed at the serpent. At least Robert Green didn’t blame his gloves, the wind, or even the highly controversial Jubalani World Cup ball. 

Unfortunately, in life, we have all made a similar blunder. We have directly gone against God’s perfect law of love.  We have chosen hatred, lust, envy, chauvinism, racism, bigotry, and rejected the truth on the grounds so that our superiority and pride be not touched. God’s word aptly notes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Since God is completely holy and perfect, our sin separates us from God and from the intimacy He desires with His creation. Yet, in God’s grace, complete, unconditional forgiveness is offered through the work of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. (Colossians 1:14) Fortunately for us, God did all the work necessary for us to be forgiven. (II Corinthians 5:18) Now, it requires a complete humbling of self by admitting we actually went wrong and need God’s solution. Warning: Faith required.  [For the full story, see HERE] 

True forgiveness is an interesting thing requiring two components. First, the one seeking forgiveness, (repentance) and secondly, the one offering forgiveness (mercy). Note, forgiveness is not telling someone they “didn’t do anything wrong” , a denial of having been hurt, or a simple, “forget about it!” Rather, forgiveness acknowledges the wrong committed and chooses to fully relinquish all rights of resentment and revenge. When God forgives, the Bible says he removes our sins (forgives us) “as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Never to be brought up again. 

Repentance, however, if more than self-pity, vexation, or a simple, “I’m sorry!” Jesus called hearers to “Repent and believe the good news!" In Greek, the word for repentance is metanoia. This literally means, a "change of mind and heart." To repent is to turn from our wayward ways. To change our habits and our way of life. Many so called “Christians” are sorry for their sins, but have yet to repent of their ways forgetting that "IF anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) Are our lives actually producing "fruit worthy of repentance?" (Matthew 3:8) Fakes do exist which is why the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians to "Examine yourself!" (2 Corinthians 13:5) 

Resentment, bitterness, and anger is embodied by those who choose not to forgive. (AND I’m not referring to the Robert Green dilemma) Rather, we have all been wronged (and wronged others) by words, actions, and thoughts. How futile to hold grudges when we consider God’s willingness to forgive us. Around the world on a weekly basis, Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer and utter, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” REALLY? You really want God to forgive you as you forgive others? Personally, I need mercy. Mercy from a God who forgives me in spite of my woeful ability to love as HE loved and my failure to forgive as He forgives. 

Just as Robert Green released that Jubalani ball into the back of the net, the time is now to unleash forgiveness on those who have wronged us. As one said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.” In forgiving, we find freedom. In repentance, we find hope. 

Before we judge the hands of Robert Green, perhaps we ought to examine our own life.