Part of the beauty of the small church building is the stained glass windows. On my first visit to the building I was struck by the uniqueness of one called the "Alleluia Window" that includes the image of a surfer.
The stained glass was created and placed in thanksgiving for the life of Cameron Gallion who was a member of the church for only six months before he died of cancer at the age of 14.His parents dedicated a website to the memory, courage, and legacy of their son. (http://www.camerongallion.com/) Here are some of the admiring and loving words of Cameron’s parents:
For the last year and a half of your life, you were faced with a formidable challenge. You turned a devastating illness into an epiphany. God spoke to you and you listened. You told us to "pray, pray, pray, pray, pray." You spoke about the power of love and hope. You wrote: "Don't let the sadness get in the way of your everyday lives." You laughed and joked in the face of fear and pain, rarely missing a single day of smiling. Your strength was astounding, and you later expressed it in words: "I walk in the shadow of death. But nothing is too strong for me. I grab him by the neck and bring him to the floor."
Doctors called you "phenomenal," nurses said they saw light surrounding you — you took their breath away. Clergy people came to help you, but they walked away in awe. They said you were a teacher. You learned to know the human body inside and out. You tuned into the very core of your being and followed every beam of light that felt right to you. From this we learned countless lessons. You told us that your journey would be a jigsaw puzzle — that some pieces would be easy, like the corners and outside edges. You said we would fill in the harder parts, piece by piece, in amazing ways… until we reached the center of the puzzle — the center being YOU.
You led us to the ocean, the saltwater in your blood. You surfed the waves, soaked up the sun, and marveled day after day over how much you loved your new home. The sights and sounds of the marshes, the birds, the palm trees, the streets, the buildings, the beaches, the dolphins, the tides and the sunsets — you cherished them all. Your eyes were as blue as the summer skies, your smile as wide as a rainbow. You told us you loved us every day.
Our love will live for eternity. Oh, Cameron, our baby, we promise to honor your words:
"I exclaim to the world that I am here to stay each night and each day."
OUR PERFECT SON HAS BECOME OUR PERFECT ANGEL.
WE LOVE YOU FOREVER,
Mom & Dad
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