Jim Hinshaw
Contributing Writer
Improvement Professional, President & Sales
My wife and I were at dinner a couple of weeks ago when I got a call. It was from a friend letting me know that a mutual friend of ours had lost their son due to a pulmonary embolism. He was only 30 years old, at their home, waiting to have a family meal. The mother came into the room, found him on the floor, already gone from this life. We made plans to head south to be with them in their time of need.
When we arrived, we heard the whole story. Two days earlier their son had called their pastor, asked to have a lunch meeting, said he had some questions about life and what happens when we die. The pastor met him, they talked for 90 minutes. Later that week at the eulogy the pastor said he was glad he took the meeting, he had a great conversation, their son got some things straightened out, the family had peace even though he has left this life.
We went to the funeral service at their church, a large Presbyterian house of worship in the old part of town, where every pew was filled. The church holds about 1000, it was an overflow crowd. There was a reception at their home later on, people had parked 5 blocks away. It was amazing, people had lined up outside waiting to get in to share their love for this family. This went on for hours, the mom finally took a chair before she collapsed, the emotions were running high. At one point a local restaurant brought over an amazing amount of food: shrimp, crab, and several desserts, just left them at the door, said they were thinking of them.
There were companies that the family had done business with from both the west coast and east coast, again, to show their support. It was an emotional week, and got me to thinking: how can we show our support and love for someone going through a situation like this.
Many women from their church took up the challenge of feeding hundreds of people over the next three days. Many were there from 8 am till after 10 pm, preparingwhay meals and helping with clean up. Someone had to organize all the volunteers, make sure they had the right amount of help all along the way. There were people all over the nation to contact, not just family but business associates, suppliers, and customers. Schedules had to be changed, they took a week off to be with family on the Florida coast to just be by themselves.
We had no idea what to say when we arrived for the services, it is best to admit that. Just being there is support enough. Here is what I do know: you cannot read a book about what it is like when your child dies, you just live it, coping best as you can. They will be an encouragement to families going through similar circumstances. My message is this; be kind to those around you, you do not know what they are going through. And hug your children, we do not know what tomorrow brings. Thanks for being involved.
Jim has worked in the hvac industry for decades. He ran the Trane office in Phx for years, became president of a large mechanical contractor, bought a small residential contractor, and joined a friend
as VP of sales for a large residential service and replacement contractor in Phx.
In 1999 he started his own hvac consulting business, branching out to the solar industry from 2005-2011. In 2011 he joined the Everrest team as Western division manager, helping dealers and distributors improve sales and profits. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he gets to see his genius grandson on a regular basis. Life is good!