There's A Plan

The past few days I've dedicated a significant amount of time to reflecting on Yordan, his life and his death. As a Christian I believe there's a purpose for everything, and God has a plan for our lives. However, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of plan involves a healthy, happy, hard working 27 year old to be shot and killed just a year after arriving in the US. Here is what I came up with: In about a years time, Yordan traveled through and explored several countries on his journey to the US. Lived and experienced life in NYC with his family, visited his friends in Miami, and finally his friends in Texas. Considering he'd only seen Cuba up until he was 26, this must have been a pretty spectacular year for him.  He stepped foot in countries some of us have only seen in pictures, and was able to reunite with friends and family he'd recently only seen through Facebook and old photographs.

What if God's plan was to give Yordan 1 final, epic year? What if the plan was to have him experience things he's been dreaming about all his life, and then end that year with a moment that would serve as a catalyst in the lives of everyone he cared about? What if the purpose of his death was to give everyone who knew and loved him a wake up call? We're living on borrowed time, and nothing we have actually belongs to us.Yet, we hold on to material things, we hold off on following our dreams, we settle for mediocrity,  we let the smallest infractions ruin our days,weeks, and relationships. We focus so much of our energy on inciting conflict, noting the negative, getting the upper hand.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to get us in line, to force us to reevaluate our choices. Maybe Yordan is at God's right hand at this moment basking in understanding, looking down at his loved ones and seeing their hearts change. Seeing their minds recalculating and deciding on something better. Maybe God's smiling at him and saying "That's all you, you're saving all those lives." Heck, maybe his dad is with him too saying "Estoy tan orgulloso de ti hijo."

Sure this is all speculation, and I can't pretend to know God's plan for anyone, but I say this is a solid guess. With this theory I've made peace with his death, and I'm started to realize the importance of showing love in the smallest of ways. Interestingly enough, I've reunited with a family who has a knack for it. Folks who have a way of making you feel special and loved within minutes.

Can't be a coincidence, right?