in memory of samuel anandam richards

This is a very difficult 1st post because it is about missing a friend and a brother in the Lord.
Anand died, and went home to the Lord on 14th september 2005. He had an accident but was actually on the road to recovery in the Intensive Care Unit of Pantai Hospital Melaka until a blood clot came up to the arteries near his lungs and blocked up the blood vessel - similar to a heart attack.

Prior to that, the recovery from the accident was actually miraculous. The people who saw the wreck or pictures of it would say that no way anyone would have survived, but he did.
Many doctors and friends would say Thank God for the miracle.

But Why such an overlook? Why did it had to happen like that? Why this and why that?
Sigh... We don't have all the answers, but someday we will where all our unanswered questions will be answered in a very simple manner. And we don't pretend that we have all the answers. We are not God and we don't play God. Period.

Why don't you sue the hospital? The parents felt that it is not important anymore and besides they do not want to relive the whole torturous incidents in their minds in the future.

Why are our prayers not answered? Maybe they are except that they are not answered in the way that we would want it to be.

At this time, there are many "wise" crackling comments on everything, and how things would turned out differently if this had been done and that had not been allowed and if only they would do like this, but such comments are neither necessary not does it help the whole situation. So why be like the "comforters of Job" who would only get a rebuke later on.

Anand had been very special to me and my family. In many ways, he is still with us because of the good memories that we had together and they are unforgetable. We enjoyed being with him and my kids would love to chat and play with him.
I knew him way back when he was in Primary school Bukit Hampar, Standard 6 I think, and I saw him grew up to be a fine young boy/man. He was active with the church music activities and never complain about anything. Many people were blessed by his piano playing and his skills at the keyboard were unrivalled. When he left for medical studies at Manipal, India, we felt a momentary gap that nobody could fill. Other pianists may feel slightly reluctant to fill a maestro's shoe.
On his occasional returns to the church, it had always been joyous and nice - never a difficult relationship because we love that boy. I am going to miss him. We are all going to miss him.

But we want things to go on as if the relationship is still as fresh as it is yesterday. I believe that is what Anand would want when he look down from heaven and see us today. We had cried our bottle of tears and hidden our speechlessness. Now we move on. The future is full of many young peoples lives that can be changed for the better especially when we can input into their lives with the good testimony of Anand as a yardstick. So Anand, your life is going to impact more people from now on even though you are not physically here. And when I go to other towns to share, Anand's life would be included as a fine example. Many people will be blessed by his name.

SAMUEL ANANDAM RICHARDS (23 Sept - 14 Sept 2005)

note: see other post from his friends:
http://justinewantanmee.blogspot.com/2005/09/sam-and-vj-goodbye-guys.html