A Tribute To Coop

Brian Cooper is a member of a men's fellowship group that meets every week in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, Recently, he offered up some reflections for those who attend. As he spoke, I realized that although we know our "Coop" as this man who is one of us each week, many of us are not familiar with his story in the way that I here now relate.

Over the years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work at basketball and volleyball events at high schools such as Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI), colleges like Columbia Bible College (CBC), and universities such as Trinity Western. One of my intriguing observations has been the unusually regular gathering of kids around this chubby little guy wearing an MEI or CBC jacket wherever the teams were playing. This didn't happen just once in a while; he regularly showed up to watch some of his kids play some ball.

It turns out that this guy is an icon to almost every student or graduate from MEI over the past quarter century or more. He still gets invited to graduation ceremonies — black tie and tails sort of stuff. But why?

It seems that over his 25 years or so, Coop took the time to get to know each and every student individually, greeting them, acknowledging them, and taking an interest in their lives and their studies. In return, they have never forgotten their beloved Mr. Cooper!

Several years ago, I was paying a visit to a sister-in-law in hospital. Afterwards, I recalled that Coop was in hospital recovering from a severely mangled leg that was crushed when a ladder collapsed from beneath him while he was cleaning the backboards in the gym for a basketball game. It was time to pay him a visit as well.

As I wandered down the hall, I heard strains of Christmas music that became a little louder the closer I got to his room. When I arrived at the door, I looked in to spy Coop, lying in serene comfort — almost angelic — surrounded by eight or nine members of the MEI choir who had come from school to sing him a serenade of carols. Even today, it is a memory never to forget.

It took a lot of dedication to remember kids — with impact — and leave a legacy of Christian interest and service.

You see, Coop was not a principal, nor a vice-principal, nor a teacher. He literally cleaned the place up every day.

He was the custodian!

What a lesson for us all!

Matthew 20:27-28a – Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant. For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. (NLV)

Prayer: Lord, we bow before You with thanks that You provide for us living examples of the characteristics of Your Son, examples who can show us how to live in service for You. We like to recognize those kinds of values as they are passed on to a younger generation. Help us as we try to honour those examples in our own lives. We ask that You would continue to inspire each of us with the knowledge of the sacrifice of Your Son for us, for He came to care for us. Amen.