6 Comments

  1. Scott
    March 12, 2014 @ 12:22 pm

    Thanks for sharing this, Hanke. God’s peace.

    Reply

  2. David Hanke
    March 12, 2014 @ 12:40 pm

    Thanks Scott. I really appreciate your kind support. Thanks for checking in– means a lot.

    Reply

  3. Melody
    March 12, 2014 @ 12:55 pm

    I have a mix of emotions over reading this – sadness that cancer took his life and joy that Shawn no longer suffers and is with his Heavenly Father! Shawn will be missed!

    Reply

    • David Hanke
      March 12, 2014 @ 12:58 pm

      Yes he will be missed by many. Thanks for praying for him and his family.

      Reply

  4. Tim
    March 12, 2014 @ 4:55 pm

    At the time Shawn gave his Good Friday reflection on Christ’s words “I thirst,” I did not know Shawn. But, with permission, we recorded the service that night and transcribed the service into a brief book. I did not know about Shawn’s struggle at the time, but looking back now, I find that he said this:

    “I thirst myself. I want to be healed. I physically thirst. I emotionally and spiritually thirst. I want pain to stop. I want to be united with God.”

    In the Washington Post on November 24, 2013, I learned about the seriousness of Shawn’s condition, but I was totally blown away by the faith he showed in a — get this! — “4-full pages feature” article that began on the front page of the Sports section. The article presented an amazing story of faith, strength and courage through interviews and stories and photos and quotes from him and from his journal. This is a standout article, one in which he said things like this:

    “I’m scared. I want to live. But I’m here to say that God is sovereign and good. When I can see the good. And when I can’t see the good.”

    or this:

    “Please pray first and foremost that I can find an unparalleled peace from God through this.”

    I won’t repeat the entire article here, but I recommend it to all.

    Reply

    • David Hanke
      March 14, 2014 @ 7:34 am

      Tim, that Good Friday service was so powerful for so many of us. Shawn’s convictions and faith were so strong. Thank you for helping us remember that evening.

      Reply

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