I had the opportunity to meet Tim Keller on Easter Sunday 2009. I was visiting New York City with some good friends, and after his sermon, I walked up on stage to introduce myself, thank him for his ministry, and thank him in particular for how his 2002 sermon "Blessed Self-Forgetfulness" had been life-changing for me. What I most remember about that interaction is that after I said who I was, he stopped to spell my last name, to see if he could get it right (he did).
Over the last 19 years, Tim had become one of my heroes. His teaching, through his books and sermons, had a profound impact on me. His Galatians study opened my eyes to the pervasiveness of idolatry in my own life and the bounty of God's grace. His Prodigal God sermon and book helped me understand God's love in a deeper way. His book on marriage was a helpful primer as Lauren and I began our life together. And more recently, I've appreciated his articles on race & justice, the state of the church in this post-Christian world, and his insights into not aligning the Christian faith with a political party.
But I think it's something beyond his teaching and wisdom that I most appreciated about him. When I learned about his death on Friday, through tears, I began reading different people's stories of their own interactions with Tim. Over and over, I read about the same self-forgetfulness that he preached about and even modeled with me in our brief interaction in 2009.
I think this is what I'll miss most about him, his way of being in the world. The way he seemed to go out of his way to care about others and encourage them. The way he handled criticism with grace. The way fame and success did not seem to de-form him. The way he winsomely spoke about Jesus to skeptics. Traits that are rarer than they should be.
I will miss his voice and presence in the world. And I'll be forever grateful for his well-lived life.
