Monday 28 October 2002

Pic of the day: And at the last, as fall turns to winter, only the fruit is left.

Goodbye, my friend

Don't you hate it when a friend dies? Even an online friend. This morning I was saddened to learn of the passing of a fairly young man (34) who preferred to go by the name "TimberBram". He had been fighting cancer for a very long time, and I guess it was just a question of time. I first met him in the reader forum for the online comic The Class Menagerie. Since this was a comic about furry characters, there were a number of homosexual posters there (I am not quite sure what's with furries and gays, but I think it has to do with hugs). Several of them, Americans, had a rather difficult relationship to the Christian religion. TimberBram was deeply loyal to his Savior, yet the deep and genuine friendship he offered to everyone did much to disarm any hostility.

I have already in the past linked to his magical fiction World of Erath, but I think it appropriate to do it again now: I don't know how long it will stay online after his passing. I found it refreshing to read a classic fantasy story with elves, trolls and what not, all set in a world where belief in God and Christ was an option and even common. (Angels had appeared to preach the gospel shortly upon the resurrection.) TimberBram never tried to hide this aspect, but neither did it seem as an attempt to sneak-convert anybody. It just so happened that he would not feel comfortable, even in a fantasy world, without this foundation of his life. And as he pointed out: "I write the stories I would like to read". And I liked them too. They were full of imagination and yet tightly plotted.

***

The one thing that struck me about the main character was how, albeit being a deeply lonely soul, made friends wherever he went. Of course he also made enemies, but this was because those who walked in the Dark always hated those who walked in the Light. But to anyone who could possibly be open to it, he would offer a hand of friendship, and even though he was always lonely he still had friends wherever he had gone before.

In this, if nothing else, I believe the stories were autobiographical. "TimberBram" was always willing to reach out in friendship, and those who knew him would soon count him as a friend. It is evident now on message boards, LiveJournal, wherever he was known ... there is a world filled with the friends he made in so short a lifetime. Though he is gone, his memory lives on as an ideal for others to strive for.

I once said about another and much older friend, that he was dead to sin and alive for God, while most of us are very much alive to sin, if only by staring at it in horrified fascination. TimberBram was another such soul, who would simply ignore the negative and radiate hope, enthusiasm, encouragement and unconditional friendship. As a slight variation on the famous Cheshire Cat, Timber slowly faded out of this earthly existence until the only thing visible was a hand stretched out in friendship.

Sleep well, my friend. May the Lord you always served, let you wake again to a better day.