Matthew Murray
Last Sunday I made a day trip to Beulah. Connected with friends from school. Heard Joanne Lyons speak. Talked with people interested in going to Suriname next year. It was a good day. Shortly after the evening service, I got on the road and headed for home. At 9:30 pm, somewhere around Sussex as I was listening to Audio Adrenaline "cranked to eleven", I noticed some crazy skid marks all over the road and a large dent in the guard rail. I remember thinking, "Wow...I wonder what happened there."About fifteen minutes later I was approaching Petitcodiac. My cell phone rang and it was Paulette. She asked if I had heard about the accident. She informed me that three teens from our church had been in a bad accident on their way home from Beulah. One, Mike B., was fine with just a few scratches & bruises. Mike D. was in the Moncton hospital awaiting surgery, but it looked like he would be alright. Then she said that Matthew Murray was being taken to Saint John and he was not doing well. After our conversation, as I drove, I remember thinking that surely she just meant that he had quite a few bones broken, although rationally I knew it was much more serious.
I got into town and soon met up with the somber group of teens waiting for word on the condition of their friends. Shortly after midnight we found out that Mike D. had come through the surgery quite well. Shortly after 1 am we got the call that Matt didn't make it.
The events of the last four days have been heart-breaking, but powerful. Matt was a solid, one-of-a-kind kid who lived life with incredible passion and made it clear to the world that he loved God with an undivided heart. At 19 years of age, he was definately a Carpe Diem kind of guy. He loved adventure, and he loved sharing his faith. One of the pictures that best captured the essence of Matt was one of him sharing his faith and giving a Bible to a Buddhist monk at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Matt was part of a very tight knit group of friends that have grown up and matured in their faith together. Many flew in from all over the country to grieve this loss together. Matt was also clearly rooted in an incredible family that helped shape him into the godly young man that he was.
The loss is devastating and the sadness that his family and close friends indubitably feel is unimaginable. However, as this week has unfolded, I have seen some amazing things.
The church family has been such a reflection of the body of Christ. Everyone immediately made loving and caring for one another the number one priority. Matt was so dearly loved and his life had undeniably had an impact. But last night, as visitation was held at the church, the magnitude of his impact started to become apparent. The line-up for speaking with the family had a 3 hour wait time. The funeral directors said they had never seen anything like it. It is estimated that 1500-2000 people were present to honour Matt and offer encouragement to the family.
The funeral service this morning was one of the most impacting things I have experienced in my life. As the service got underway, Fusion Band (from our Sunday evening services) led the people through two of Matt's favourite worship songs, Better Is One Day and In Christ Alone.
There are no words for how powerful this was. Many words were spoken, stories told, and portions of letters and conversations with Matt were shared. The two hour service felt like no more than 30 minutes. It is impossible for a person to have sat in that packed house and not be challenged by Matt's life and legacy. He is without question in a better place, and no doubt many others will be also as a result of his life and his death.
posted by sibbie751 @ 10:30 p.m.
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