Jack Layton Passes Away

There are times when you hope (desperately) for a better outcome than what you really expect.  When Jack Layton announced he was stepping away from the leadership of the NDP this summer to battle a 2nd cancer diagnosis, I hoped for a positive outcome.  I think Canada needed a man and leader like Jack Layton.  He was passionate about ideals.  More importantly, he was undeterred by the challenges that stood in between what he saw could happen and what he saw did happen.  I admire his tennacity and commitment to care for the poor, the weak and the oppressed.  Jesus was passionate about those same things and somehow along the way, that same passion and vision resonated with Jack in a meaningful way. 

I met Jack Layton a few years ago when I was President of the Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce.  He struck me as a genuine and humble man who was more interested in being real than he was in pretense and posturing.  My hope was to meet him again in my new capacity and pray with him in his office.  It was not to be.

I heard the news of his passing early this morning. I had hoped for a better and brighter outcome.  It was not to be. While his family has experienced a great loss, our nation has lost a great man who brought balance and wisdom to Canadian politics.  He will be missed. 

I read Jack Layton's Letter to All Canadians earlier today.   I don't know if  I've seen approach death in a more dignified and balanced approach.  Consider his last words to all Canadians....

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear.

Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.

And we’ll change the world.

On behalf of the board and partners of Leading Influence Ministries, we express our sincere condolences to Mr. Layton's family, his colleagues and his peers.  Your loss enormous and our prayer for you is that the God of all comfort will be near you in every way.  We have lost a great Canadian who inspired us, challenged us and left us with the hope that things really can be different than what we see around us.