I don’t think I knew him. Maybe I did. Maybe he was just starting at Concordia University, St. Paul when I was finishing my stint as Campus Pastor. Many in my circles tell me that he was a great person of life, fun, purpose and humor. That’s what makes his drowning in a pond thisContinue reading “One Purpose Of Your Pain – Todd Stocker.com”
Tag Archives: death
A Makenzie Restoration
The dreams about her have subsided. I don’t think about her everyday as I have in years past and I’m needing to play old audio to remember her voice. Six years ago today, my oldest daughter, Makenzie — who is now my youngest — was invited into heaven. “Six years” is a long time as IContinue reading “A Makenzie Restoration”
How to Help Those Who Experience Loss
You may have been there. Someone close to you loses a loved one and you find yourself in that situation of wanting to help but not knowing how.
Recently, someone in the ToddStocker.com community asked me what to do when his cousin died at a young age and was wanting to console her parents. Given that I’ve been on the other side of it, I offered this simple advice.
LIFE IMPACT: MAKENZIE AND QUINN
They didn’t know each other and we didn’t know her. Yet last Friday, we all connected. I opened up my email and saw one sent from, “Quinn.” I don’t know any one bearing that name. Spam had spammed me I thought. As is my habit on these junky occasions, I hovered my cursor and right clickedContinue reading “LIFE IMPACT: MAKENZIE AND QUINN”
I’M ANGRY AT DEATH
I’m angry this morning. I don’t normally wake up angry yet today I am. A friend of mine who has influence and has influenced hundreds of adults and high school students died suddenly on July 4th of a brain aneurism. Young, brilliant, creative and physical death captured him as he prepared for his day. FunnyContinue reading “I’M ANGRY AT DEATH”
Makenzie: Five Times Now, Today.
I’m up earlier than normal again. The last few weeks have stolen hours of sleep from me, most likely because of today. Five times now, I’ve endured the turning of this calendar page without my oldest daughter Makenzie. Five times now, this day has kept me from work, from happiness and from others. Five timesContinue reading “Makenzie: Five Times Now, Today.”
Your Choices Have Outcomes
I was standing in the store, eavesdropping on a mom and her son’s conversation. He was trying to decide on which toy to buy his littler sister. He held in one hand some sort of over-accesorized doll and in the other, a storybook. After several moments, of lifting up one over the other, he placedContinue reading “Your Choices Have Outcomes”
When Love Surrendered to Hate
His hands were up as He starred down the barrel of the sins of the world. He couldn’t move – rather He didn‘t move – held there by fear, pain, and humiliation. Ultimately what kept Him surrendered to hate was love. Love best defined is caring without the hope or possibility of that care comingContinue reading “When Love Surrendered to Hate”
When Death Goes to School
We don’t expect such horrific violence on the innocent. Across denominational, political and racial lines, our kids’ safety is our priority. So when Death walks the halls of a school in Connecticut, we watch with horror, wondering if our kids’ school is the next target. As the hours and days reveal details, we’ll learn moreContinue reading “When Death Goes to School”
The Beautiful Death
I park a few blocks away from my office. In part because there are rarely any spaces next to my building but mostly because I enjoy the walk. 19th century homes give way to our beautiful campus at Concordia University St. Paul. This time of year, the pathway I take is blanketed with death. ThousandsContinue reading “The Beautiful Death”
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