Last week we celebrated All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, a time when we pray for the intercession of all saints who have gone before and we pray for the souls of our departed loved ones. We live among a cloud of witnesses, angels, and saints who light our path and support us on our journey. They are truly with us.
As a case in point, on October 4 (Gracie’s birthday), we received a phone call from Stephanie Daily, Jack’s next-door neighbor from the duplex they shared in Irvington. She told us that a package had been delivered next door, addressed to Jack Shockley—four years after he had moved on to Heaven above. The sender was not identified on the package, and we were all a little spooked but also very curious.
So Stephanie brought the package to our house so we could open it together. What we found inside was a package of sour-candy eyeballs and three small bottles of “Toxic Waste Sour Slime.” Yuck! Halloween candy that only Jack Shockley would love.
Peter did some detective work and determined that the person who received Jack’s old cell-phone number had risked criminal fraud charges by using it to hack Jack’s Amazon account to order and pay for Halloween candy, only to “forget” (with Jack’s help) to change the delivery address. A classic Jack bit—sour Halloween candy delivered on his sister’s birthday—to remind us that he is still with us. (In case you’re wondering, Steve, and I ate the eyeballs but are saving the toxic slime to toast our boy on an appropriate occasion.)
Jack is our little saint. After Jack was shot and killed, his roommate, Dylan, found a Memento Mori medal in Jack’s bedroom. Jack loved Medieval saints, so it was not surprising that he left behind a practice that dates to that time. A practice that teaches the benefits of remembering our death. Christians trace back this practice to Genesis and the consequence of our sin—we are dust and to dust we shall return. Greek philosophers such as Socrates taught the proper manner of preparing for dying and death.
Like all things Jack Shockley, this is upside-down and countercultural to the times we live. Especially for a young man. He knew what was important in this life and how to prepare for the life to come. Memento Vivere: remember to live for eternal life.
Jack lived an intentional life, scheduling time for the things and the people that mattered most. He prayed morning and night and read widely. He worked hard, played hard, and loved fiercely. He was the fun, and he was always at the side of whoever needed him. He led by example but was not afraid to call out, in that joking way of his, any hypocrisy. He is irreplaceable, but that is the point. He has not left us, but has journeyed to the place we all hope to go. As Father Francis says, we are not to fear death, for death is the key that helps us gain access to eternal life.
And I know Jack Shockley. He will spend his heaven helping each and every one of us along the way until it is time for the key to turn that separates body and soul, and Jack will meet us in the Heaven above with his big smile and a bigger hug.
In the meantime, we tend his grave and pray for the souls of all our departed loved ones who are sleeping in wait for the final Resurrection. We look up in faith and trust. God is good, all the time! Thank you, Jesus!
