Celebration of Life / Joshua Guiendon

Personal Introduction

Memories of Josh

When we were kids Josh was like most younger brothers trying to keep up with his older siblings. James and I would relentlessly tease each other and fight. All of a sudden we had someone else to pick on. James and I would scheme and make plans on how to best scare this newest addition to our family because, well, he needed to be prepared for life as a Guiendon.

But Josh quickly knew how to hold his own and became a master at planning intricate pranks on James and I. More than all of this, he became a friend that you want on your side.

You see Josh might seem on the outside to be the consumate jokester, he would be there for you when it really counted. In fact, I would come to find out more recently, he would become the type of man that would help people that most would have dismissed as a lost cause because he saw value in every human being.

As a minister, I often tell people that you will never look into the eyes of a person that God does not love with a fierceness that none of us can possibly fathom. I do not think my brother ever sat under any sermon I have preached; but Josh lived his life with compassion. He was quiet about it, he wasn’t looking for praise. He just wanted to be part of the solution instead of the continuation or ignorance of a problem.

See, our father has always taught us that if we see something that needs to be done that we need to take care of it and not leave it for someone else to do. We all took that very seriously. I do not think we will ever know how many people Josh helped through the years.

Question

How many days have we unmindfully passed through our days? We are so focused on what has to be done and one day you are reminded of where you came from and that there are people that you have neglected. That day for me came on December 7th this past year. A phone call that came not only as a shock but as a shift in my universe.

I had hoped so many times to come and visit everyone on the East Coast, but never had the money or the time. At least that’s what I told myself.

Isn’t it funny how we can find the time AND the money when it comes down to the important things.

If I could tell you anything that I think Josh would want you to know today; and I would agree with him/ There are two things really

-Don’t waste the days you have left on this earth.

-Don’t leave questions behind you if you can help it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”