The Dawn Treader

A light rain fell yesterday at Westminster Gardens where the body of sixteen year old Clete Childs was interred.

While standing there in the misty rain, I turned to my friends David and Christine, and said "Clete's life was redemptive.  Everywhere he went, he pushed back the darkness."  They nodded in agreement.  Clete, through his minstry of hugs, engaged everyone around him and reclaimed enemy occupied territory by giving away joy.

Clete's funeral is the most distinctive funeral I have ever attended and perhaps will ever attend.

A friend of mine was hit by a drunk driver last night.  His brain shows no activity at the moment.  His heart is strong and continues to beat.  He is sixteen years old.  Pray that God in his mercy would choose to perform a miracle on my friend Clete. Update: Clete passed away at Baptist hospital in Winston, on November 19th.

Clete Childs  1989 - 2005

Update: Others have special posts expressing grief at Clete's passing.  Joe Guarino and Mickey McLean are both members of the Greensboro blogging community and both have ties to Caldwell Academy (Clete's school).  Clete's picture was on the front page of Saturday's News and Record.  Many in this community are feeling the effect of this tragedy.  My prayer is that God will use Clete's death in a redeeming way, in the same way that Clete's life on this earth had a redemptive impact on those around him.

The family will be receiving visitors at Friendly Hills Church at 10 am on Monday.  Clete's funeral service will be at 1:00 pm.