I just heard that my great uncle passed away last night. He was truly one of the saints of our family - a faithful Catholic, devoted husband and father, all-around great family man in the best possible sense of that concept.

This comes just two days after our grandson was born. So of course people are already saying things like, one life ends, and another begins, or God takes one and gives another. But there's something about that idea that bothers me. Not that there's anything wrong with it, per se, but I think maybe it doesn't do justice to the fact that a life in Christ never really ends. Yes, we have a new life just begun in this little newborn. But with my great uncle, after 80-something years of life, his life is also just beginning. We say, "rest in peace," and yes, that's good, but I also want to say that death is not a retirement from life so much as taking life to the next level. For 80-something years my uncle practiced and played in the minor leagues, and now he's moved up to the majors.

As he was declining, we have been praying for him. Now, I trust, he will pray for us. He has joined the cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). Not only is he now playing in the majors, but he's sitting in the stands, cheering for us, as we keep practicing and playing in the minor league. Uncle John, pray for us! Especially pray for me, so I can be as good an influence on little Zachary James as you were on me!