When a well-known good person dies, the sadness and grief is far reaching as the whole of society shares in the loss experienced. Things feel different because to a large extent an emptiness lingers around. A fine example has been displayed this week in light of the ongoing pouring of love for the late 47-year-old Alden Duane ‘OJ’ Maynard whose life was taken through gun violence.
It was truly like a state service-like funeral service as scores of individuals from all walks of life came out in their numbers to pay their respect. The glowing tributes alone captured on the occasion significantly spotlights the essence of a man whose loss has affected and is affecting so many people; many of who remain in disbelief and shock that such a humble and selfless individual has gone too soon, amidst circumstances unthinkable for a man of his character who is described to have shown love to everyone, a reputation known to all those who knew him and knew of him.
Maynard’s “adopted priest”, the officiating minister Archdeacon Isaiah Phillip, as part of his open prayer expressed: “Father God I want to thank you this afternoon that we have the opportunity to come together after such tragic circumstances to give thanks and to celebrate the life and contributions of our bother OJ. We pray that in the midst of our celebration , you would help us to find some framework within which the tragedy that has brought an end to his life may not have the last word but somehow by your grace and blessing, we’d be able to embrace all the positive things that he lived for, and we’ll have the courage and the hope to continue to go forward in positive and positively affirming ways…” Archdeacon Phillip, while speaking at the service, surely imparted some encouraging words fits in the category of life
lessons in saying to “all of us whose lives have been touched by OJ and to who have known him, think of the love and the care, think of the professionalism, think of the humility, think of all those positive ways in which he has touched our lives and touch our community and let us celebrate that…” According to him: “because if we’re truly to do what we purportedly want to do to have OJ everlasting then we have to find that place in our lives where he touched us; where not even the tragedy of his brutal murder can rob us of and if we truly embrace and hold on to that love , and seek to share it and live it out among ourselves and our communities as we go forward and onwards, we would have truly won a victory even over the brutality of his death. And all of us in the midst of celebrating this life which was really cut short by the brutality of murder, let us all as we embrace the love and support and the positive engagement and affirmation that OJ shared with so many of us selflessly and with great humility and with great commitment for the years we have known him and the lived with him and around him, let us embrace that, and let us be so committed and connected to spreading that kind of positivity that all of us in our corner wherever we are in the federation of St.
Kitts and Nevis, we would eradicate and mold our lives to building communities of peace and nonviolence.  From the first lesson Romans chapter 8 verses 31 to 39 (the last verse), Archdeacon Phillip urged to continue to hold on to hope and go forward courageously. He said further that he basis of such is to embrace the love and care and the support and the positive engagement and encouragement that you have experienced at the hands of one another.
Condolences goes out to all of Maynard’s family, friends, colleagues and all other affected by his passing.
