In Memory of J.D.

Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting family, attending his professional meetings, connecting with friends, touring this mile-high region of thin air and low humidity, drinking deeply of God’s good creation.    On Thursday we were sitting on the big, old time porch of the Chautauqua dining room in  Boulder, looking at the “Flat Irons,” an unusual panorama of rocks that resembled their name.    We were ready to eat an early dinner and go for a hike with the remainder of our last day in this spectacular setting.  Still, I stole a few moments to check e-mail on my  phone.  Before me was the sad news that our long time friend had passed away just an hour before.   This delightful man that graced our lives and loved us all would now be spoken of in the past tense.  J.D. Stahl was someone whose keen intellect and zest for learning and life went way beyond the norm.  We average folks use about 10% of our brain capacity, but I think J.D. used everything God gave him and generated more along the way.   He was charming, thoughtful, and insightful…and he loved sharing life with people of all walks of life, from all over the world.  How privileged I feel to have been a small part of his life and that of his family.  Ten years ago, J.D. was diagnosed with a chronic form of leukemia.  I’d already been to blood cancer school, having experienced my father’s long “relationship” with myeloma, and losing him at age 73.    It comes like a Ninja in black mask, wraps you up in duct tape, and stays stuck to you forever.  While J.D.’s illness never defined him, it changed his life and its parameters.   My reaction was to stomp my feet in utter disgust that the thief had struck again.  And that’s when my world got a little bigger and more challenging.  If J.D. was willing to fight for life, I was willing to fight for a cure by raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while enduring the challenge of preparing to run marathons, cycle events, and triathlons…  His life changed forever and so did mine.   J.D. graciously allowed me to share his image and his story far and wide as I cast my net to rake in thousands of dollars for each event I entered.  In the past 9 years, I’ve completed twenty Team in Training events and raised more than $80,000.  J.D. did his part, too…he followed the protocols and endured the treatments, always making the best of any good day while taking the bad ones in stride.  He allowed us to help…which helped us cope with his reality.  On Monday, over 400 people gathered to worship and celebrate J.D.’s remarkable life…scripture, hymns, tributes, letters, poetry, affirmations, prayers, and sermon all illuminating his beliefs, his love of words, life, and people.  J.D., may you rest in peace, and may we all remember the promise we’ve made individually and corporately to care for your wife Sarah, and your sons Daniel and Hans.