Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Edge

Over the years... I have had the privilege of participating in the creation of what has been referenced as "The Dream Team" as I have traveled and taught well over a million people in various conferences and forums.  The Dream Team has consisted of Myself, Chad, Jason, and Scott.  Others that have come and gone, and by no means have these others been less significant, they however did not come nearly as often as the four of us that were ALWAYS together.

We have created together...  Invested together...  Shared together... Won and lost together... and grown into brothers...TOGETHER.

One of those brothers passed away recently and it has left such a vacancy in our world, and I wanted to write to express how I feel about this tragedy, and offer up my thoughts as this is MY forum where I have the privilege to share as I wish ;)

I was so shocked as I received the call that this had happened.  A fallen brother...middle of the night...of course I'll be there...no matter what!  I, and so many others, have made so many sacrifices in an outpouring of support for Jason Brian Leek and his family that survive him.

My heart goes out to his young 6 year old little girl.  Olivia..."Liv"...she and her Dad were such a pair!  So in love with each other as Fathers and daughters should be.  The heaviness I feel when I consider her little heart as she is trying to make sense out of the death of her Father at such a young age.  Yet, however heavy I feel,.. I consider how heavy Jason's soul feels as he considers the same and that it must be similar to what I feel, yet amplified by infinity! :(

Jason was one who would be the first to help in any way that he could.  He was technically inclined and would be the one that could fix what needed to be fixed,.. build what needed to be built,..  He would do it with a smile and often times anonymously.  Something I grew to really respect was his willingness to express gratitude on a frequent basis and show thanks.

As we all have our own personal struggles, so did Jason.  We all go to that "edge" and flirt with that edge.  I too, have had my dark moments when I have felt alone, lost, and very discouraged.  Those moments when everything feels like its being piled on top of me, and I can't see a way out.  We DO have choices in those moments.  Jason's death was a result of flirting with "The Edge" and his death was not intended and certainly unexpected (I believe even for him).



I believe we have all had these moments when we feel so out of control and when things have become so (seemingly) lost.  We look back on these moments and don't even recognize that person and the choices we may have made in a time of struggle and fear.  What I have learned from this tragic and terrible accident, is that nobody is above desperate struggle and strife.







However,...







in those moments,.. are there choices?  YES!  Yes, there are!  Yet, when those dark dark moments come, and I find myself on "The Edge",.. I now choose to think of my dear friend and brother Jason asking and beckoning me to come off of that ledge, and to come away from that edge... because unintended and tragic accidents happen when we come too close to the edge.



Life gets hard, and sometimes unbearable,..yet the fight is still worth fighting!  Those that we love (and they love us) still want us near!  Have the courage to accept Jason's invitation to stay a bit further away from that "edge",.. have even more courage to ask for a bit of help from someone you know.  STOP thinking they won't help or that they won't care.  They can't care until they know that you might need help.  Count the blessings you DO have...  "The seeds of sorrow cannot take root in a grateful heart."  Please, I beg you, to remember these words...that you DO have a choice in all circumstances, as to the state of mind you will choose.

I hope these thoughts are taken with the light of hope and the desire to let that flame within each of us burn!  That flame is in there!  It is real... and perhaps deserves some attention as it may have dimmed over recent time.



I am 100% sure that Jason would take that moment (when he left) back if he could!  Feel grateful that you and I still have that choice.  For me,..I choose hope, light, and life!  It is my hope that you do and will too!

6 comments:

  1. You speak from your heart and how refreshing it is to read. My condolences to you and his family especially his young daughter. Live each day to the fullest, embrace all life has to give and never ever give up. Sending a HUG your way.

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  2. after reading your post you reminded me one old song ( almost 47 years old )...it's older than me... it's important part of my life...:) every time when I find myself on "The Edge" this song somehow comes back to me... and... and I know somewhere is answer for everthing...for me person who wrote this song left small piece of own soul between words... just like you now...


    There were so many days, filled up to loss of strength
    Filled up to a loss of breath, there were so many moments
    When you regret those which were for nothing
    You should know one thing, remember just that:

    That important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for
    Important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for

    A famous person who had a house and orchard
    Suddenly lost meaning and fell in with a bad crowd
    Although his fortune was lost, he did not fall
    He was able to rationalize that

    Important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for
    Important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for

    How to recognize people who we don't know anymore?
    How to pick up the disarrayed thoughts?
    How to quickly separate your heart from your mind?
    How to hear yourself among the singing crowds?

    How to recognize people who we don't know anymore?
    How to pick up the disarrayed thoughts?
    How to suddenly find joy and hope?
    Seek for the answers, there's so much time*

    Important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for
    Important are only the days which we do not know yet
    Important are those few moments we're still waiting for

    *At the end of his life, Grechuta started to sing "there's so little time" instead.

     
    ...:)

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  3. thanks for it what you wrote I really needed read something like this tonight

    A.

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  4. It is late and after a difficult day I find these words of yours, not by chance. I think about how life can change in a fraction of seconds, the fragility of it and also its beauty, which makes it worthwhile to live it. And even in the darkest moments there is always light. Matt I am very sorry about your friend and it is my soul to think about that little girl processing so difficult situation but that is why the best homage is to deserve life and be thankful.Thank you as always for your words. I hope you always keep expressing youtself in such a deep and heartfelt way.Mariana

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  5. Matthew, First I would like to say thank you for sharing your talent that you have been given to others. I first came upon you in Belle and the Beast. The credits list your last name as Davis, so I had to do more digging to find you. I'm glad I did.

    I am so very sorry for the loss of not only a friend but a brother in your life. You are right. There is always a choice, even in the most difficult times. No one is or ever will be exempt from moments of discouragement, anguish, uncertainty and doubt. We all have circumstances that we need to address, even though at times, some of us looking at another from the outside in, may seem to have it all together and figured out. When times are good and we are blessed, that's when we need to share with others that we are there for them, so that they know in times of darkness or trials, our love for them is multiplied.

    You have been given a gentle spirit, Matthew. One that should never be hidden and always shared. You speak of choosing hope, light and life! Absolutely! Along with love, there is nothing in this world that can ever truly extinguish purpose. You have had a gift from God in your deep relationship with Jason. It can continue to find a home so deep within your heart that no one else can know so intimately but God. Some of the hardest heartaches in life, birth the most precious blessings a person will ever know, until they look back upon what they have been brought through, they have yet to realize. Thank you so much for sharing!!

    I feel it is an honor to love and keep you in my prayers always, Matthew!

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