Jackson Zinn’s Mark On The World Was “Spectacular”
There are some moments in life that are harder to deal with than others. And then there are some whose difficulty and horror are unimaginable. It is one of these that I want to share with you today. First, a little background information.
Jennifer Jackson and I were classmates growing up in Houston, Texas. We were friends. Close friends? No. However, we “ran in the same circles” and I can never remember an unpleasant moment between us. Upon graduation, she went to Texas A&M and I went to Baylor. Outside of a couple of social events in that first or second year out of high school, our contact became non-existent for decades. It happens. As adults though, we were able to reconnect through Facebook. She married a man named Greg Zinn and their family had planted roots in Colorado, but what I remember most was a new common bond between us: our boys were golfers. We would acknowledge and comment on each others pictures and every now and again swap golf-parent things that only parents of golfers would understand.
Jackson Zinn was 2 years older than my son, Hogan. At 22, Jackson was playing golf for a small school in New Mexico, The University of the Southwest. Last week, on a west Texas highway, a pickup truck lost control, crossed the center lane, and ran head-on into a van carrying the men’s and women’s golf teams from The University of the Southwest. In an instant, Jackson Zinn, my friend’s son, was gone.
If you know me personally, or you’ve listened to this show for any length of time at all, you know it’s a rare instance that I have nothing to say. It took two days for me to post this to my Facebook page: “The more I read about that tragic crash in west Texas, the more my heart breaks. I make my living with words, but I have none for Jennifer Jackson Zinn. So, I will just continue to pray and invite you to do the same.”
I didn’t want to reach out to Jennifer directly (as I knew she would be inundated with messages from those whose sentiments would be far more meaningful than mine). And truly, I didn’t know what I would say. Then, in the middle of the night on Monday, I received this: “Hi Chuck. Can’t sleep here in Denver. Not a huge social media person but SO grateful for it now. I would so appreciate you sharing his story to everyone you know. He was exceptional. That rare combo of fiercely competitive crazy hard work ethics and complete goofball that you most loved being around. “
“He just knew how to draw the best out of people. Everyone has a chance to leave their mark, and it can be good or bad. His was spectacular.” Jackson Zinn was a 4.o student this semester and was looking forward to his life’s next season. He had aspirations of trying to make it on the PGA Tour. He also had aspirations of running a hotel chain. He was a loving and loyal son and brother. And by all accounts, a friend to all who knew him.
Here are the words that finally came to me for Jennifer in response to her Monday message. “One thing that is often stated in these times is “I’m sorry…” What I want to tell you this morning is I am so happy, so glad, and so thankful for the time your Jackson was with us. He was a bright light and the world was better because of him. People like that don’t come around every day. You and your husband are and were blessed. And in turn so were we all by you sharing Jackson with the world.”
Pray for my friend and her family. What this tragedy underscores for me is that indeed none of us is promised tomorrow. And as a parent trying desperately to make sense of and relate to my friend Jennifer’s pain and circumstance? But for the Grace of God go I. So, don’t let the sun set today that you don’t tell everyone you love-that you love them, and if possible, a hug goes well with that too.