Brianna Becker, 1987-2009: We lost a star, and Heaven gained a saint

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. - Isaiah 57:1-2

Much love, Brianna.

Brianna Becker was a friend of mine. She was a vice chairman in Young Conservatives of Texas, working for the Susan Combs campaign. She spent time interning at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and a summer at the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute. She was getting ready to take the LSAT today, because she was going to be a lawyer, and she was going to be such a good one.

But that was just her earthly vocation. Brianna was an outspoken Christian, secure in her faith. She took comfort and guidance from the Word, and was never shy about telling people everything they wanted to know about what she believed.

Brianna was a role model for all of us. She was the kind of person who lit up a room. A natural leader, Brianna was also constantly seeking to serve others.

She was jogging last night when an SUV pulled out of a driveway and struck her. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. (Statesman story) (ETA: Statesman article from Sunday paper)

I ask that, if you are a praying person, you pray for her family, and for her friends. It's bewildering - we lost a star last night.

Brianna's very last message on Twitter was about her ambition for today. "I never wanted something as much as I want tomorrow to be the real deal, the one and only time I need to take that test."

In an odd way, her wish was granted. We know where she is - dancing in heaven, with her Savior. That really is the real deal.

We love you, Brianna. May you shine on.

(Brianna, me, and Liz Young, at YCT's state convention earlier this year)

(Robbie Cooper at UrbanGrounds has a tribute to Brianna Becker posted here)