What is life expectancy, what a way to phrase a question/
What kind of answer should return the truth, convey the message//
Is it, equality the same end for every person/
Is it sovereignty a giving God and living with purpose//
Is it only shall the strong survive and then will end the weak/
Or a dog eat dog world, take advantage, turn the cheek//
How bout living out your dreams and express it through a poem/
Know what you expect out of life and you can gain the gold//
Well for a family of an infant diagnosed to comatose/
It’s journey down the pathway to fight and know the ropes//
Each living soul is different like a fingerprint’s identity/
Each body’s made a little different, singing it’s own melody//
Embedded in the DNA, where the twisted strands dance/
I wish I guide the way and hold each little one’s hand//
I’ve been there before, and I know the way now/
Like a tourist with a map and pamphlet, got it laid out//

Life loves me, life loves me not it goes/
See the beauty in a flower when I’m pulling on the rose//
Prick a fingertip, bleed a bit, from trying to hold it tight/
I want a year for every petal, still alive at sixty-five//

Can life be re-paid, can life be reimbursed/
Get the tears back you cried for every time you felt the hurt//
What about medical bills, hospital trips, doctor visits/
Time and time again hearing results that weren’t worth a listen//
But you have to, hear the news for what it is/
Could do damage to your ears, or it might mend a heart thats delicate//
A life-long relationship with medical technology/
Feel like the drugs and machines should owe me an apology//
Where to aim to blame, if only that I knew/
For the one who has the power, has more love for me than I do//
Not in measurements of self-esteem or the image in the mirror/
Not in a sense of being vein but in a sense of being clearer//
Unconditional, not limited by any means/
Break the strands and molds that try to pigeon-hole me please//
Unconventional, I’ll be damned if I don’t defy/
Disease, I want seeds in a family that can multiply//

Life loves me, life loves me not it goes/
See the beauty in a flower when I’m pulling on the rose//
Prick a fingertip, bleed a bit, from trying to hold it tight/
I want a year for every petal, still alive at sixty-five//

Will God give me the chance to say goodbye one last time/
Gather friends and family members, single file in a line//
Apologize for neglecting, for always second guessing/
I should have nurtured more relationships are such a blessing//
Hear a word from a friend that makes you smile when it hurts/
Get better treatment from your wife than any certified nurse//
And a rock to stand on, not just in Christ but in family/
Break their backs just to help you hold steady handling//
(1,2…) I’m an angel in waiting/
Growing wings out of my spine to take flight navigating//
When it comes time, give em pounds & daps I’m outta here/
Take the one and only flight up, blast into the atmosphere//
Look next to me, I’m not flying all alone/
I’ll take the long road home where the psalms unfold//
And be the oldest man living till the day I pass away/
Telling cystic fibrosis that it lost again today//

Life loves me, life loves me not it goes/
See the beauty in a flower when I’m pulling on the rose//
Prick a fingertip, bleed a bit, from trying to hold it tight/
I want a year for every petal, still alive at sixty-five//

It is with joy and sadness that we inform you of the recent passing of our dear brother Christopher (CJ) Walk on August 21st 2010.

As many of you already know, CJ had been battling the terminal disease of cystic fibrosis since the age of two.  However, the last nine months have been the most difficult due to many hospitalizations.  His lungs collapsed repeatedly, which required the daily use of an oxygen tank.  In addition, a feeding tube was surgically placed so he would be adequately nourished.  Yet, as the weeks and months passed, CJ’s body progressively became weaker and shut down; yet, his faith in the Lord greatly increased. Despite all the suffering, CJ never ceased to give God the glory for his life, circumstances and salvation, and in many cases used his circumstances to exalt his Great God.

In the last days of CJ’s life, I had the blessing of praying with him and sharing in deep conversation about his love for God, his wife, family and music.  It was in these moments that CJ expressed that He was satisfied with the accomplishments that the Lord had given him so far, and he was ready to go home and be with his Savior.  He died knowing that he had honored the Lord with his talents, gifts and accomplishments.

CJ’s life reflected a posture of humility that helped influence the philosophy and mission statement behind Humble Beast. CJ recognized that God was the focus and music was just the medium.

A gifted producer and emcee, CJ was often noted as one of the best at his craft.  His artistic abilities enabled him to address the complexities of life, religion and relationships in an understandable language; his passion challenged others to think differently about music, suffering and hope.  He was as authentic with his music as he was with his Christian faith.

CJ is survived by his wife, Jenna Walk. He was a great husband, performer and friend.  The impact of his passing cannot be measured. He is now with the Lord where there is “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”

Continue to pray for Jenna and her family.  Please join the Humble Beast family in their commitment to ongoing support for Jenna Walk.  If you would like to make a financial donation, please click on the link provided below.

To learn more about Cystic Fibrosis please visit http://www.cff.org/