I Connick the Terminator

Chapter 63:Tim Lacy Class of 2012

You have to hear this story! Eight years ago after training in my lake for an Ironman Triathlon, I had a thought to build a gathering area on my property. I figured all the triathletes could bring left over treated lumber to my house and we would build a shack of scrap pieces of wood. I told my father of this idea and he informed me of a building that was being torn down in the downtown area of Mobile. He said the owner of the building said I could have some material from the demolition. I had to find a way to get down there from my west Mobile location at Baker high School. The next day, when I came to work my principal, Mr. Clem Richardson, told me that I would represent the school at Tim Lacy's funeral.

I did not know Tim Lacy. He was a good student that was planning to enter the armed services after graduating. Unfortunately, he would not make it. He contracted a rare disease that only affects around three hundred people around the world. From what I was informed, most of the cases involve women.

This church, that I was going, was located half the distance I would need to travel to make my way to downtown. When I entered the church, the only familiar face I recognized was a person named Bill Schafer. He was the older brother of a friend of mine named Mark Schafer. We began to talk about the connection with Tim Lacy and he informed me that his father worked for his company Overseas Hardwoods.

When the funeral was over, we went to the reception in the back of the church. Bill and I were talking and I informed him that I had to go, so I could make it downtown. He inquired about what I was doing and then informed me of what he did for a living. He sold high-end lumber to places like Disney World. I told him I was going to dig through a rubble pile. He informed me that the wood he sells has to be perfect and any imperfections are returned to the company. He said that we have to sit on the blemished wood or use it as a tax write off.

I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit in our conversation. Bill informed me that I should call him because they had a good year this year. This chance meeting lead to the building of what I would like to call my church.

Eight years later, Baker high school started a wall that would honor the veterans that graduated from Baker and served our country. The first installation included over two hundred names. One of the names on the wall was a young man that was killed by a drive by shooting that ended his life. He was a member of the JROTC program and we thought it was fitting his name to be included. I thought it was fitting to include Tim Lacy's name on the wall for the second phase. Thanks to Mr. John Todd and his students from the Continuous Learning Center, the plaques were engraved and placed on the wall on October 24th. The second phase included over one hundred and forty names. One of the names was Tim Lacy. I noticed the name during the final preparations for the second phase ceremony and asked if we had invited his parents to the ceremony to be conducted on November 7, 2019 at 9:30 am.

I called the parents of Tim Lacy and had the opportunity to speak with his mother. She was surprised to hear from the school after all these years. She told me that Tim was there only son. She also said Tim knew that he would not live a long life.

Now get ready for this! Please pay attention! I told Mrs. Lacy that the ceremony for the second phase of the wall of honor was on November 7th at 9:30 am. The phone momentarily went silent and his mother said to me, with a voice that I could only describe as being full of grace;" My son passed from this world to the next on November 7th at 9:30 am eight years ago".

There is a God above that orchestrates so many things in our lives, daily, so just open your eyes unclog your ears and live in the goodness of God.