My friend of many years, pretty much all thanks to him. He was a connector. Not because he was a busy body or bored with life- he lived a very full 21 years-he was a connector because he loved so deeply,so freely, so faithfully.
Faithful Friend, every day comedian, Norah jones enthusiast, certified SCUBA diver &proud American who loved God and loved people in way that his legacy will live on.
My vivacious, rambunctious canoe partner who insisted on paddling it like a gondola and ended with us both in the river trying to tread water and rite a canoe...it was barely starting to be funny that it even happened and now it's a precious memory.
The guy who taught me to play chess by beating me shamelessly for five games in a row, convinced that eventually I would get it.
He didn't ever hold back- not in life or love or board games. He was in it to win it.
His sense of humor was amazing! Still is. Parts of it will live on in my memories and even slip out of my mouth from time to time.
He certainly made an impact with that humor. Most all of my memories end very sweetly with lots of laughter, even when at time I was the butt of the joke.
Man! That guy. He fit more life into 21 years that most people ever do. He traveled, he made friends with every walk of life. His faith was strong and always growing. He cared so deeply for his family and his friends and quickly made strangers feel like family.
He was strong - mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Boy was he strong! I mean, there's a 70 something percent stat for everyone ejected from a vehicle to die instantly, yet he fought on hard for a week.
I can't be leave he left us behind. It's kind of like if you were talking in a group and someone crazy or awkward or basically trying to hijack your conversation walked up- there was an unspoken rule that the person to walk away first was free and you had to find your own way out of that conversation. It was hysterical in action, because you knew it was nothing personal, but you had lost and thus must go on listening to the awkward rant.
Well, he has done it again. It's nothing personal, but he won.
He's in heaven now standing PERFECT before the Father. He's meeting Chuck Smith and David and JESUS. He's singing songs of praise and adoration to His Savior ,the one who set him free. He is free indeed.
I can't pretend to understand it. To understand why or how or "where do you get off?!"
I may never know as long as I'm in this life, this conversation.
I know that I miss him terribly already and will continue too. Things will come up, days will pass, memories will gather and he'll be missed. Anytime I see an American flag or watch Psych or hear certain country songs, or kings of Leon or Jon foreman or Norah Jones.
But I know four things :
1. God is good
2. I was/am lucky to have Tracy as a friend
3. He must be celebrated rather than mourned cause that's how he would want it.
4. I will see him again.
Gone but never forgotten isn't enough. His life-so unique, so short, so precious- demands that we love each other more, that we take care of each other, that we connect with each other, that we appreciate freedom, that we worship the Creator and Sustainer of life, that we celebrate the opportunity to love and love and that we never ever become jaded to the hope of heaven cause he's waiting for us there.He's standing PERFECT before our Savior! He's free indeed though missed by all. Thank You, Jesus, for the life of Tracy Paul Newberry!
For other tributes, notes and pictures visit:
rememberingtracy.com
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