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Brighten the Corner Where You Are . . .

© Traute Klein, biogardener

Suffering from a genetic disorder, Phillip's life was a constant struggle for survival, yet he spread a message of love here at Suite101. Although I will miss him, I am happy for him, because he is now at peace.

A Tribute to Phillip Ray Keen

May 27, 1970 to September 18, 2001
One of God's Special Children

Phillip Keen was with us for a short time, but he left a deep impression on my life. His enthusiasm was catching. He was consumed with an urgency about informing his friends and readers about Prader-Willi Syndrome. He knew that he had only a short time for what seemed such a big job.

A Time to Rejoice

When I received news that Phillip had gone home to glory, my heart rejoiced, because I knew that he was with the Lord he served. Immediately, a Sunday school song started running through my thoughts: "Brighten the corner where you are . . ." Yes, that is what Phillip did. He brightened the corner in which the Lord had placed him, and I was fortunate to share that corner with him for a little while. The Internet is rather a large corner in which he had been placed, and sometimes he felt overwhelmed with responsibilities and with technical difficulties, but a little email encouragement was all that was necessary to get Phillip to smile again and to set him on the road to helping and encouraging others.

Friendship with Phillip

Phillip and I had much in common. We both loved the Lord. We both loved music. Both of us were reaching out to others on the Internet because of disabilities which made other communication difficult. Both of us wrote about our disabilities from first-hand experience, he about Prader-Willi syndrome and I about posttraumatic stress disorder. Both of our lives on this earth were miracles. People with Phillip's disorder do not usually get to be as old as he was, and people with the kidney disorder with which I was born, all die in infancy, and I was in my mid-thirties before the condition was corrected surgically. Phillip and I both felt that we were here because our job on earth was not done.

Completion

Phillip's work is done now. Mine is not. As soon as it is, I will be joining my dear friend, and both of us will be whole. As he stands before the Lord, I hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21)

The copyright of the article Brighten the Corner Where You Are . . . in Natural Health is owned by Traute Klein, biogardener. Permission to republish Brighten the Corner Where You Are . . . in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.