09.05.06
Steve Irwin
It’s strange how the death of a stranger can have an effect on you. A few years ago the wife of a list member from the Orthodox Convert list died. It tore me up. I had exchanged a few private emails with this person, but nothing legthy. When Princess Di died, it didn’t phase me. It was tragic, sure, but I had no connection to her. Chris Farley, sad, but not surprising. When Phil Hartman (SNL alum with Farley) died, it really touched me. He seemed like such a nice guy, a neighbor who’d loan you his trimmer and ask your family over for burgers.
I liked Steve Irwin. I liked watching him and Sui (his dog) then later Terri (his wife) go chasing after crocs to relocate. Or schreeching to a stop in the middle of a back country highway to rescue a snake that had been hit by a car. Or organizing the rescue of a huge croc from the zoo in a war-torn country. I felt like Steve was a nice guy. He was who you saw on the screen. Exuberant, madly in love with his wife and kids, absolutely loyal to his friends, and genuinely concerned for all of Gods creatures.
I’ll miss Steve. We should all take as much joy in our jobs and family as he did in his.
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend the soul of thy servant Steven, and beseech thee to grant him rest in the place of thy rest, where all thy blessed Saints repose, and where the light of thy countenance shineth forever. And I beseech thee also to grant that our present lives may be godly, sober, and blameless, that, we too may be made worthy to enter into thy heavenly Kingdom with those we love but see no longer: for thou art the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of thy departed servants, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
