POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

The (Amazing) Everlasting Man

I have had a truly blessed life through these forty years. This is not to say that there haven't been the horrible times of suffering and tragedy that all of us endure. There have been. But on the whole, and compared to many better souls than I, my sufferings have been light. My burdens few. I have had a truly blessed life.

Because you have tolerated my darker posts of late (and been kind enough to let me vent), I did want to share with you some observations about humans - for whom nary a good word is said - and, in particular, human compassion and love.

I have watched the manimals go buying
Buying shoes, buying sweets, buying knives
I have watched the manimals and cried buying time
Buying ends to other people's lives -

XTC - Jason and the Argonauts

My good brother, James, had an amazing send-off. More than 300 people from all points converged on a tiny park lodge (Hubbard Park Lodge) atop a hill overlooking a river in Shorewood, Wisconsin.

The ceremony/memorial was unlike any I have attended - people of all walks of life, economic strata, religions, spiritual paths - assembled for one purpose... to celebrate a life well-lived. A veritable circus for those who tend toward the well-worn path. There was a Reverend whose vestments included sacred symbols of more than a dozen world religions. There was a Ogibwe Flutist and "true voice" singer who performed in solemnity (James was part Chippewa). There was a merry band of hippies who lead a well-played and heartfelt Indian/African "drum circle" of sorts. There were people in traditional African garb, both pale of face and other - there were people dressed in Indian (dot not feather) costume, some Indian, many not - there were hippies dressed as "men in black" with sunglasses (joking that James was an alien). There were also people dressed in black suits who wear them as a matter of course. I was asked to wear one of James' very favorite Hawaiian shirts. Not many men can pull off wearing Hawaiian shirts. I am sure I looked like 20 lbs of potatoes in a 10 lb sack. There were those with influence, those without. There were celebrities from the east coast and a slew of no-names from the hinterland (like yours truly). There were those with much and those who had to scrape for gas money to make it up from North Carolina (in order to dress like a "Men in Black"). It was a spectacular spectacle. And a very fitting send-off. The memorial was, for me, a who's who of beloved and recognizable eyes set in faces more plump than I remember (heads balding or bald) - and eyes that kept company with wise smile lines, beauty marks and crows' feet. Paths converge.

But the real fruits of James' tragic passing has been nothing short of stunning. In my own experience, I have had no fewer than 4 of 5 long-time, but nary spoken to, old friends reach out to me saying how profoundly touched they were by his passing - stating they had begun the process of really taking a deep and thorough inventory of the state of their affairs - relationships, commitments, lifestyles, assumptions, orientation to Creator God. I have witnessed James' amazing wife, Alyssa, at her very best - as a remarkably strong and determined mother, leader, woman. I always found her to be an incredible person - but I have come to recognize just how incredible she is. James' younger brother, Chris, a Marine Officer of several tours, was everything an officer and a gentleman is to aspire to. James' sister, Ginny, along with Mama Jane, living portraits of all things wonderfully and deserving-ly exulted - Woman.

I have turned my focus to my own family, James' family, my dear friends. And many things that yesterday seemed like hassles, I have re-considered - embracing them instead as glorious blessings.

I have had a lot of time to think about things. And, even with nothing - should the business be buried, my livelihood and dreams be dashed, my home be taken, my cars break down, the world around me crumble - with my family and friends at my side - the downside would not be comfortable - but it would be nothing, really. Absolutely nothing. I would still be a very blessed and rich beyond any measure - because I am not really of this world, now am I? The Everlasting Man

UPDATE x1

Sarah - one-time love of James, remembers him - SOUP's on!

Enoch_Root

Person with kids,a beautiful wife, a job. Catholic of the Latin Rite.

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