Death came much closer this year, and he came early...on Labor Day. Early, also, because he came to an 8th grader. I prefer the way Lindsey's mom put it, "the angels carried Lindsey away to be with Jesus." But it was still "away" - and there lies the sting. God didn't create us to be "away" - to be separated, but through our own sinfulness we have separated ourselves from God. Thanks be to God that He did not allow that separation to remain but sent His Son, Jesus, to reconcile us, to bring us who were far away back to Himself.