John at Hilton Head
circa 93-94
The Pay It Forward in Memory of John Dye web
site was granted permission by Jim Dye to display
the personal photos of John you see on this page and
throughout the site. At the request of John’s loved
ones, please do not re-post or publish these photos
anywhere else. Thank you. |
From
Cindy:
I have been a fan of John Dye for
years. But since January of 2010
when my mom passed away, he has
especially been on my heart and
mind.
So I have been trying to figure
out just what it is that makes
this man so special. Knowing John
was ‘out there’ somewhere
brightened my days. It wasn’t just
his acting or his looks. It wasn’t
that he was from the South. Those
are the things that first
attracted me to him. John was a
man of God, he loved his family
and friends, the places he lived
and the work he did. He was kind
and compassionate. He took
time to care for others.
And, John tried to make a
difference. This is what
endeared me to him. His
plans may have changed through the
years, but did his purpose?
No, John wanted to change the
world. I believe he was
called to be an actor so that he
would have better opportunities to
do just that. He changed the
world by acting. John
changed the world by acting as a
man dying of AIDS, a conscientious
objector Army medic, an angel, and
a variety of other roles both real
and fictional. John also
took action. He changed the
world by making a difference with
each activity and place in which
he was involved. John changed the
world by taking something he loved
to do and using it as a means to
accomplish what he needed to
do. And he did it one
project and community at a time.
This made him special.
Did his life turn out like he
planned? Probably not, but, was
there a plan for his life?
Yes there was. The Bible
says, in Proverbs 16:9, ‘In his
heart a man plans his course, but
the Lord determines his steps.’
There was a plan and a purpose for
John and that continues. In
an episode of Touched By An Angel,
Tess says, ‘Sometimes a person
does his best living through the
people he leaves behind.’ We
are the people he left
behind. It is our charge to
carry out John’s best
living. We need to make a
difference in our communities. If
we do that, we can change the
world. It is my hope and prayer
that Pay It Forward in Memory of
John Dye will be something John is
proud of and that it will continue
his legacy in a manner worthy of
his calling and his purpose.
I had wondered a while back, what
it would be like, when the next
adversity in my life hit and I
could not think of him being ‘out
there’ somewhere offering hope.
However, I am learning that he is
now ‘up There’ offering
hope. I dreamed back in the
spring that my life had again
become chaotic and stressful due
to unknown circumstances. In the
dream, he was there (as, Andrew, I
think) comforting me, and telling
me I would make it through this.
The day I learned my dad possibly
had cancer, I came home, got on
the internet, and opened an e-mail
from a friend who had found, a
“new” old picture of John.
There he was, offering up the
peace and calmness I needed.
Then, a week or so later, when I
learned my dad did have cancer and
would be starting chemo, I again
came across another picture of
John. He is still giving me
hope. And, strangely, I feel
closer to him because it’s like he
knows me personally now and is
encouraging me through pictures,
contact with his parents, his
other fans, and, of course, this
site. I even wonder, if that dream
was a forewarning of what I am now
beginning to go through. He is
still touching us. I was attracted
to him through his portrayal of
Andrew. I felt John played
that part as if Andrew were Jesus
walking again on this earth.
His dad said in an interview that
he could bring sunshine to your
life…he certainly could, but, John
could also bring Son-Shine, what
an example he set!
John acted justly, he loved mercy
and he walked humbly with his
God. He is now resting
peacefully in his reward in
Heaven. But he is STILL
making a difference. Through all
the people he ‘touched’ on Earth
and all the people he will ‘touch’
still. This is why this man
is so special. I love you,
John. You are my standard.
I’ll see you when I get to
Heaven-go eat some of my mom’s
cooking! I miss it. She will fix
all of your favorites.