Photo above: James Mack, 6’1″ tall, works his way to the top of a 35-ft pile of debris on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Photo below: James (right) works with crew to clear debris and search for flood victims.
Twenty-four hours after the worst of the flood waters roared and epically overflowed the limestone beds of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas, twenty-three-year-old James Mack was already onsite with a team engaged in search and rescue efforts. James worked with a crew chain-sawing through enormous, uprooted trees and clearing other debris in search of survivors and in recovery of the dead.
Over the next seven days, July 5 through July 11, James’s crew stayed at it through the high and humid July Texas heat. Their crew sadly discovered five deceased, and in tandem with the several crews surrounding them, many more were tragically found. Additionally, they ran across countless lifeless animals of all sizes — from horses and cows to raccoons, birds, squirrels, and house pets.
I happened to sit down with James over lunch on July 12. We visited about a variety of subjects before James mentioned his Hill Country work in a casual, matter-of-fact sort of way. I was quite surprised to learn that James had spent the past week on the front lives of the tragedy, and I was astonished that he was of sound enough mind to calmly discuss other things before mentioning his experience in Kerr County.
For those of us who know James, his calm demeanor in the face of difficult times is no surprise. He often exhibits maturity, stability, and concentration well beyond his short twenty-three years. After all, his vocational dream is to become an ophthalmologist. In other words, this highly intelligent young man has, for most of his life, envisioned himself as an eye surgeon! And for those of us who have known and worked with James in the San Antonio Youth Chorale as well as a CUE Choral Scholar, we will be not one bit surprised when his big, worthy dream becomes his reality. And when it does, the outlook for ophthalmology in general and for his patients in particular will become a lot brighter!
James is a fine musician. He sings very well and sight-reads the spots off the page. He is also a superb violinist who transmits deep emotion and rare artistic passion when he places bow to strings. He studied for years with one of the finest — if not the finest — violin teacher in San Antonio, Mary Ellen Spencer Goree. Consequently, James’s skill and expertise with his hands, his extraordinary musical ear, and his well-developed focus and concentration will all serve him well as an eye surgeon. No way will any of his patients refer to this physician as tone-deaf to their needs and concerns!
The reason James and I were having lunch on Saturday, July 12, is because we had just had rehearsal with his accompanist in preparation playing two gorgeous hymn settings the next morning at Woodland Church. I had noticed in the rehearsal that James’s playing had taken on new depth and maturity since I had last heard him play several months ago. After telling me about his last grandparents’ recent death and then hearing his stories from the past week in Kerrville, it was no longer a mystery as to why his playing was imbued with such color, emotion, and feeling. Art, when accessed through the emotions, can communicate as nothing else can.
After lunch, when we had gone our separate ways, it became even clearer why he had been able to serve so well in a time and place of such trauma and tragedy. I believe it is because James is becoming increasingly and uniquely qualified to not only become a first-class ophthalmologist, but also to expand his artistic expressions. And beyond that, he is becoming a world-class human being; in fact, he already is! On numerous occasions, we in SAYC have observed James take on a quiet mantle of calm leadership, lead a congregation in worship through his highly sensitive playing, to become friends with all kinds of people, to be a good neighbor to all he meets, and to freely express the love of Christ in relationships casual and close.
James, thank you for your service on multiple levels. And Godspeed on your journey towards your dreams of continuing to help others!
Randy Edwards
