Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Mark leaves a legacy that touched the world and individuals like me. I've know Mark since 6th grade through church and then throughout middle school, high school and beyond. I can truly say that he had a major hand in making me who I am today. Even in middle school, he constantly challenged me intellectually, and we would debate "the mysteries of the universe" from every side of an issue. Even our playtime was often spent in unconventional pursuits. Once we built a time machine out of a trash can that, unfortunately, never worked, but we had a lot of fun designing and building it. We spent hours listening to stations around the world on his shortwave radio which helped spark my interest in electronics and getting my ham radio license. In high school we travelled to Flagstaff, AZ, for a missionary vacation Bible school for the Navajos, and I remember his great display of faith there. We took three years of Latin together in high school with the third year having only three people in the class so we had a blast. Our high school graduation party was at his parent's house just before they moved to Colorado. Needless to say, it was very mellow, but we had a great time celebrating before he left for Trinity in Illinois. Years later, he took me on my most productive ocean fishing trip when I visited him in Santa Barbara, and I remember Mark painting every square inch of exposed skin with sunscreen every time we went to the beach because he did not tan or burn; he blistered. One great quality about Mark was that he never changed. He was always the same intellectual prankster, and we could always pick up where we left off whenever we talked as if no time had passed since our last conversation. He had a quick wit and profound wisdom, and I valued every conversation we had. However, his greatest attribute was his unshakeable faith in God which was something beyond my comprehension. He made Job look seem like a piker. Even in the midst of his physical suffering, Mark was able to look at it as God permitting it for some unknown purpose, and he bravely endured everything with a positive attitude. Over the past two decades, Mark had his physical ups and downs, and it almost seemed as if he'd outlive us all in spite of everything. However, God finally called him home, and he is now with Jesus learning the truth about all of "the mysteries of the universe" that we debated so long ago. The pain and suffering are gone, his brilliant mind is firing on all cylinders again and he is at peace with our Savior. Mark-- Although we didn't see each other much in the latter years, you have always been a significant figure in my life, and I look forward to seeing you again in heaven someday where we won't need a time machine and will have everything revealed to us. Until then you'll be sorely missed. Enjoy heaven until we meet again.
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