Tim's Heart

When we got the news this week it was an absolute shock! We've never had to deal with the death of an employee before and I hope and pray it never happens again. But it brings up a question that many of us have asked before and will probably ask again, "Why do so many good people die young?"

 

Our company is small in terms of number of employees, only 12, but big on results. We deliver more than 1,000 individual orders to customers all over Southern California every single month and the delivery driver in our company who delivers the most orders every month has always been a humble 50 year old man named Tim. I can't tell you how many compliments I have received about Tim but I know why. Tim is a people person. He makes it a point to know all our customers on a first name basis and give them service beyond their normal expectations. He would always tell me how much he enjoyed his job because of the great people he got to meet and serve. He loved his job, he loved the people he worked with, and he was just about the nicest, sweetest guy you could ever meet.

 

I remember the one and only time Tim ever came to me with a problem. He was in charge of his delivery vehicle and he took great care of it, but over a two week period he noticed that somehow extra miles were being put on his van. He spoke to his supervisor who denied knowing anything and told him not to worry about it. But Tim knew something was wrong so he showed up in my office the next day with this really grave look on his face. He said he didn't want to speak out of turn or cause a problem for anyone, but somebody was driving his van in the evenings and he thought I should know about it. Turns out he was right, his supervisor was "borrowing" a company vehicle every night because his own car had broken down. The thing that sticks in my mind is how concerned Tim was about possibly getting someone in trouble or worse yet, fired. I promised Tim I would deal with the situation fairly and that nobody would get fired, but I also told him how much I appreciated his honesty and how he had the guts to speak up and do the right thing. I dealt with that situation and nobody got fired (at that time anyway) and we all moved on in life....except for Tim.

 

Tim got sick a few months ago and had to take time off. We just found out this week that he passed away unexpectedly from a rare heart condition. The doctors aren't sure what was wrong with his heart but to me it is obvious...his heart was just too big!

 

I don't know why so many good people die young. But maybe if heaven is this truly wonderful place that is totally filled with love and peace and harmony....it's just God's way of rewarding them early.

Tim....The guy with the huge heart on the far right

If my heart could do my thinking, and my head begin to feel,
I would look upon the world anew, and know what’s truly real.

~ Van Morrison