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<title>Colleagues on The Journey—</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Colleagues on The Journey—<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Any
more I’m uncertain to whom to send out my Earthrise commitment. Perhaps, by
sending this to the Order and Earthrise, it will find its way to the
appropriate venue.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>On
New Year Eve 2013, I got a tattoo on my left butt!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Since
I've donated my body to </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font color=maroon><span
style='color:maroon;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Kansas</span></font></span></font></b></st1:PlaceName><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=blue><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> </span></font></b><st1:PlaceType><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=blue><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>University</span></font></b></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>, the image is
that of the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><font color=purple><span style='color:purple;font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Kansas</span></font></span></font></b></st1:PlaceName><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=purple><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:purple;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> </span></font></b><st1:PlaceType><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=purple><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:purple;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>State</span></font></b></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=purple><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:purple;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> </span></font></b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>"Power Kat." Two
words surround this image: "Last Laugh!" This will make it possible
when they take my body to <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font
color=maroon><span style='color:maroon;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>K</span></font><font color=blue><span style='color:blue'>U</span></font></b>
and roll me over, I can have the “last laugh!"</span></font><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'> <span style='mso-tab-count:
1'> </span>This April begins my 80th year, and I’m planning my
Memorial Service for July at a local hall in </span></font><st1:place><st1:City><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Salina</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><st1:State><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>KS</span></font></st1:State></st1:place><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>. We'll have a
cash bar, jazz band, poetry reading and, "nice things to say about me.
After I'm dead, they can say anything they want to about me." </span></font><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'> <span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>On Sunday afternoon, we'll have another
party for the tea-totalers along the same line but the choir will sing, etc.
Perhaps, I can convince Pastor Barry to dedicate the Sunday Service to
interpreting the Funeral Service. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>The
thinking in back of this was first planted in my mind while in the Order. We
read a book by Carlos Castaneda (“The Teachings of Don Juan”) where he wrote
that, "Death never lies to us. When we ask Death, ‘Am I dead yet?’ and
Death says, ‘No!’ then we are not dead.” On the other hand, when we ask, “Am I
dead yet?’ and Death says, ‘Yes,’ you can absolutely believe we are dead.”
(Loosely quoted)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>With
this mind, I made the decision to make death my friend. Which, by-the-way, is
good theology as Jesus taught us on the cross to die early <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>to living
independently from God**</span></i> in order to live
the surrendered life. Consequently, it makes sense of the resurrection;
I'm already a dead man walking. Actual death is just another stage that My Friend
will see me through, whenever that will be.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>The
second source of this thinking is a book by Mitch Albom, “Tuesday’s With
Morey.” Interestingly, this was the longest running Number 1 book on the NY
Book list. Morey is the professor of Albom who makes the commitment to visit
Morey every Tuesday since he is slowly dieing. Morey decides to hold his own
Memorial Service so that he can enjoy it. Today, this is an idea that many are
making. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Since
I am being cremated by KU after they are through with me—laughing all the way,
of course--I’ll be sent back to </span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>Salina</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'> for whatever
appropriate rites are helpful to Beverly, family and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Please
do not morn for me as you were there when, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>“I danced in the morning. . . .<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I danced on the Sabbath. . . . <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:2'> </span>I
dance with the Devil on the back. . . .<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:3'> </span>They
cut me down and I lept up high. . . .<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Dance
then. . . . Dance then. . . .*<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>(In gratitude to Zorba!)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>*UMC
Hymnal # 261<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>PS: The two tattoo artists laughed all the way
though the 2-hour procedure. The other artist suggested that the KU med student
skin out my tattoo, tan it and hang it on the wall. So much for tattoo parlor
humor. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Bill
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>**Salmonology defines God experientially as
At-One-Ment or/and The Guarantor. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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