No man is an island entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own or of thine friends were. Each man’s death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. —John Donne

John Donne's words become magnified in a community as small as Summit. Over the past few weeks we have had our fair share of death in our mountain hamlet.

Death comes to soon even at 90 years old, but at 17 death is obscene, hurting those of us left behind to face a world without one of our high school students, Tristan White.

Tristan died last Friday afternoon after collapsing on Wednesday in wrestling practice — sending our small community into a tailspin of grief.

From the moment we heard the news, the mood oscillated between despair and hope while they airlifted the young man to Denver and then, over the next 48 hours, as they fought to keep him alive and bring him back.

Sheriff Minor complimented the SHS staff for handling the situation in a professional and calculated way — quite an accomplishment given the critical circumstances. I am reminded that tragedy does not build character — it reveals it.

There was so much good that happened in the face of this tragedy: from the first staff on the scene to the school's crisis response team, the paramedics and EMTs, the sheriff's office, counselors from the community and the doctors who did all they could to save Tristan. This community was then there to protect and support the surviving family, students and staff who would no doubt feel the shock of this awful blow.

We feel that loss, even if we didn't know the student because we are members of a community. We are not unlike a body made up of different parts functioning as a whole. The recent deaths in our community were, literally and figuratively, dismemberment.

Its members carry a community forward. Some of us carry a small load while others lift a greater share, but make no mistake: We all bear the burdens together. The strength of community is most gloriously displayed when all parts pull together and in the same direction.

We have the opportunity to stand at the elbow of our neighbors and support them at a time when they are having difficulty moving forward.

I remember a friend of mine who had recently lost someone very close. This friend told me they wished everyone would just stop for a minute. Right after their loss, this person thought people shouldn't be stuck in traffic, going to the grocery store, or going about their business as if nothing happened.

The fact that time continues to pass regardless of the circumstances is one of life's injustices. They thought someone should at least stop and acknowledge their suffering. These feelings were irrationally directed at strangers who, of course, had no idea what they were going through. In a larger community, it is easier to go unnoticed like that.

On the other hand, most of us in Summit County don't have the excuse anonymity provides when it comes to offering help.

Before the sudden deaths of last week, Hailey Curnutte, a senior at Summit High, asked me to proofread a heartfelt essay she had just written. In it she wrote, almost prophetically: “If disaster happens it can be easier on a community if they are closer. They can handle it like a family would, with closeness and having a hand to hold.” She also pointed out: “... not only are we helping the community but we are helping ourselves.” Astute remarks for sure.

So, whether you need a hand to hold or are offering your hand to someone else, that hand's “for thee.”

Jeff McAbee lives in Breckenridge. Contact him at jjmcabee@yahoo.com or via Twitter @Jeff_McAbee.