Going to Miss You, Matt!

Matthew Brent Addis
(1984 - 2010)

Less than a week after my previous blog post, I received a call that a close friend (more like a brother) had been rushed to the hospital in South Carolina after collapsing at home. Matt Addis passed away a few days later on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. He was only 25 years old.

Matt's older brother, Blaine, was a close friend in college. I've known the family for 15 years and have considered Matt and Blaine more like my brothers than just friends. I spent Christmas this year with the Addis family (which has grown to include Blaine's wife and daughters). Little did I know at Christmas that less than a month later I would return for Matt's funeral.

At Christmas Matt was telling me how he wanted to travel to Mississippi and Louisiana. He was intrigued with Creole culture and excited that he and individuals in Louisiana bayou country had a shared passion (catching turtles). He had hoped to travel to Morgantown, Mississippi, to visit with my parents and then make his way to southern Louisiana to see first-hand the Cajun and Creole culture. He even found a friend who was willing to drive him, but Matt passed away before being able to make the trip.

Matt was well-loved, and the response from the local community at his memorial service was amazing. Matt loved the outdoors, wildlife, and country music, and each of these things were incorporated into his memorial service in some way. In the weeks since his funeral, I often find myself saying, "I miss you, Matt... just knowing you aren't in South Carolina." And yet, I know his health had not been good since his burn in 2008. Some days we just have to live in the questions and trust God when we do not seem to have any answers. I have found God is big enough for our questions. I know all the family appreciates your prayers.

Most who know me well have heard about my South Carolina "family." Others who have followed this blog for a couple of years probably remember a previous post requesting prayer for Matt when he received a severe electrical burn in June 2008. You can read that post by clicking on this link.

"Matt, I miss you already!"
Link to "Silver Wings" by Merle Haggard on YouTube.com