September 2021

     The Angels are Closer Than You Think

     Now where did I leave off?  Oh, I remember.  A few years ago, I wrote for my two-minute testimonial “The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways.”  That’s the story on how my father’s passing got me back to church.  (scschurch.com/renenavarre)  Life was good for the Navarre family.  My wife Kimberly was doing well with her job, I survived another round of oil company layoffs and our son Andre’ was wrapping up college and studying for the LSAT.  Sure, COVID made things difficult, but overall, most everything was tolerable.

     Things can change in the blink of an eye.  On a beautiful autumn afternoon, I was waiting for Andre’ to come home from LSU for the weekend. There was a knock on my front door, but it wasn’t Andre’.  It was two state troopers to deliver the worst news I have ever received.  Andre’ was in a single car accident coming home from Baton Rouge and did not survive.  I hope you never go through the emotions that went through my head at that moment.  However there was something worse….how do I tell Kimberly?  I truly believe angels come in many shapes and sizes and on that day, two angels were wearing Louisiana State Trooper uniforms.  They brought me to where Kimberly works, and they delivered the news with kindness and compassion.

     The next six days were a blur.  Planning, visitors and out of town guests turned our house into a constant flow of activity.  One night we had almost one hundred of Andre’s fraternity brothers at our house.  Those young men could go through some beer, pizza and Popeye’s but we were glad they were there.

     After the funeral, things quieted down.  Our out-of-town guests went back home and the number of visitors went down.   That’s when Kimberly and I realized it was not three Navarre’s but two.

     Never in my life have I experienced darkness as I did during that period.  Everything we worked for and had planned was gone in a heartbeat.  Graduations, a wedding and grandchildren.  Gone.  G-O-N-E. Gone.  Andre’ was our only child and we still had so many plans.  I didn’t believe my life was over, but I thought “Will I ever be happy again?”  So many sleepless nights and difficult mornings.  Mornings were defnitely the worst. 

       However, through the darkness came light.  Prayers.  We received hundreds of cards, e-mails, texts, social media messages, phone calls and spoken words, all with the message people were praying for us.  I’m convinced the prayers we received got us through the darkness.  When someone tells you they have asked Jesus to wrap his arms around you, it is such a comfort.  Along with the prayers was the outpouring of support we received from the St. Catherine community.  Additional support came from other parishioners who lost family members at a young age.  And finally, the Grief Counseling meetings we attended were beneficial.  If you ever need it, take advantage of it.  In grief counseling, everyone’s loss is different but we were all on the same road.       
     And we go on.  A scholarship fund was set up in Andre’s memory at St. Catherine School.  LSU presented Kim and I with a diploma since Andre’ was so close to graduation.  We also will receive the LSU flag which flew over the Parade Ground on his birthday.  And those frat boys that hung out at my house that night? They made me an honorary member of Pi Kappa Alpha.  Initiation and everything.

     Something else we learned from this is the meaning of “eternal life.”  Growing up Catholic, I’ve heard those words thousands of times but never gave it much thought.  Now, I get it.  We were only able to spend twenty-one years with Andre’ but when it’s time for Kim and me to go, we’ll be with him for eternity.  

     We don’t know why God took Andre’.  We like to believe God needed another guardian angel in his army.  Maybe an angel to watch over LSU students.  Of all the days in the year, Andre’ ascended into heaven on October 2nd, the Feast of the Guardian Angel.  In Ascension Parish.  Go figure.  Being an angel at 6’5”, he’s going to stand out.  Can you imagine how big those wings must be?  

     One thing for certain, I know the prayers and the people of St. Catherine Parish are getting us through the hardest time of our lives.