Tragedy of dying young

My good friend Jason is the youth pastor at Crestview Presbyterian in West Chester. Of the many issues of a youth pastor faces (rebellious teens, alcohol, sex, etc), death is not one. Leo was 13. He had leukemia. For months and months he underwent numerous treatments to help knock the leukemia into remission. During that time Jason would visit Leo in the hospital, play Xbox and just "be" - never having the answers or solutions (because who could?), but just being with Leo (and his family), and offering a sense of normalcy. The treatments never quite worked. Last night Leo died in his sleep. I never knew or met Leo, but as a parent and a father my heart pours out for the family and friends of what must seem unjust, unfair, unloving, unkind (at the root of my human heart). Yet I know there is purpose and reason, and I hope for all of them -- peace. Life is precious and short - we all say in a clich? sort of way - but facing death (through another) sometimes is the only way we ever come to grips to the knowledge of it what life ought to be. My prayers and comfort are with you Jason (and Leo's family and friends).