Open Doors

Last week the world lost a very good man and I lost a very good friend. I saw the email early Friday morning sadly informing me that a close friend of mine, Jack Templeton, had passed away. Jack was in his eighties and fighting cancer but it was still a shock to find out that he was gone and it hit me hard.

 

Jack was a retired Air Force Pilot who served our country with courage and devotion. In later years he served his community the same exact way. One example was the way he spearheaded the drive to install a new Cross on top of Battle Mountain in San Diego in 1988. That was when I met Jack for the first time and it was his faith in God and his passion for tackling extremely difficult projects that inspired me to get involved. I was at a very low point in my life but getting involved with Jack and the Battle Mountain Cross project changed my life, or should I say, gave me my life back. I will forever be grateful to Jack Templeton for his encouragement, his leadership and his passion for the Lord at a time when I needed it most.

 

Friday was also the day I was scheduled to play in a charity golf tournament. It was a tournament hosted by the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and I was invited by a new friend named Paul Huante. Paul and I got drafted onto the same Halo Baseball Club Team this season. He plays shortstop and I play second base so we see a lot of action together on the field. I figured playing in the golf tournament would be a good way for me to get to know Paul better and support a very worthy cause at the same time. I didn’t know much about Paul but I found out he owns his own business like I do so we have a lot in common. I also found out that Paul is a devoted husband, father of four and a christian who speaks openly about his faith and how it changed his life. As a business owner he takes his faith to work as well and believes in treating his employees and customers with love and respect as well.

Listening to Paul’s passion for people and love of life took away some of the sadness I felt for the loss of my friend Jack. It also reminded me that people come into our lives for a reason. Sometimes they become lifelong friends, sometimes they are only with us for a short time, but no matter what…there is a purpose to each and every relationship. And sometimes the timing itself….is part of the purpose!

 

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so
regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

                                                              ~ Helen Keller

 

Dear Jack,

 

If you are reading this Monday Message, please accept my gratitude for all that you have done, not just for me but for the thousands of others you have helped and inspired in your lifetime. You inspired me to be a better man by encouraging me to face my own personal challenges as well as encouraging me to face the physical challenge of placing a two ton cross on top of a mountain with no roads. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

 

With Love and Respect,

Joe