Steve Jobs, who in recent months stepped down as CEO of Apple, Inc., died just two days ago. He had been battling cancer for several years now.

It's always a bit surprising to hear when someone well known dies, but I must admit, I was truly shocked and saddened to hear this news.

Probably because I'm a die hard and loyal Apple fan and user. iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, iMac... Yep, I got 'em all and I love me some Apple!

When the king of a kingdom dies that you so adamantly support... and I am adamant... it is a bit surprising! You can't help but wonder what's next for the kingdom, especially when times have been so good.

It seems so superficial to worry about my gadgets when the loss of a great man and mind, a husband, father, and friend to people has passed from this life.

I awoke this morning to learn that the mother of a childhood friend had passed away just a few days ago. Now that hit me hard.

She wasn't anyone particularly glamorous. No fame or fortune. Never really fancy or foo foo about much. She wasn't someone who set out to be known or change this world in some dynamic way.

What she was... was good to me. She was joy and peace to me at a time in my young life when my world had completely crumbled. Twenty-six years ago I had been uprooted from my home and school outside of Los Angeles, separated from the security of parenthood by two bickering adults that parted ways, and transplanted 1800 miles away with my mother and sister to a small town in Arkansas in the middle of a rice field.

That's where Ms. Donna came in.

She was quirky. She had a big laugh. She had well water!

Yep. I spent 'many a day and night' with her family 'way out in the country!' That was truly the experience for a twelve year old kid who had just left the concrete jungle of L.A.! She convinced me well water was okay to drink. I just couldn't believe people did this. I thought all water came from the waterworks, not from a hole in the ground! She made me biscuits and gave me butter to drown them in. Yum! She yelled at her kids! I felt right at home.

I'm sad to learn of her passing.

I started off the week preparing a luncheon for a group of senior citizens. We celebrated the birthday of one sweet gal who had turned ninety-six years old. Wow!!! She was born in 1915. She drove herself to the lunch, and drove herself home. Amazing. I spent time listening to the advice of some well aged people that day. Lots of advice about living this life to it's fullest. Spending time with seniors will do you well. They never seem frustrated about the fact that their life is almost over. They in fact talk about it with great excitement! I guess almost a hundred years of living will do that to you!

I realize at this stage, my life is near half over. As each year turns, you seem to realize how quickly it passes. People you love and care for die. You bury your parents. You're forced to let dear friends slip away from this life. Did people die this often when you were a kid, cause I don't recall?

James 4:14 reminds us that "life is but a vapor." One translation calls it a "wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing."

The context of that scripture may actually seem harsh for many. We go about living life as we want, when in reality we should be focused on following the will of God in our lives. And life truly is short!

One day I will die. I don't want to, but I will. We all will. It's one of those events in life that no human being can avoid.

Rest Ms. Donna. I miss you mom, grandma, Wayne, Roger, Martin, and so many others that have left this life. The separation is difficult and seems so definite, but the burden of the blessed hope is one I carry. It enables me and the believers in this life to know that separation is also "but a vapor."

I was given the greatest advice by that 96 year old birthday girl... "Stay close to the Lord."

Thank you ma'am... I believe I'lI just do that.