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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Thank you, Mary, for sharing your reminder of a date with death--a gift to ponder that remains in our consciousness when it touches our lives. </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Kindfully yours,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">dawn</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">We love the Creator/Source/Spirit first because the Final Reality first loved us.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">- 1 John 4:19</div>
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On Friday, January 10, 2020, 05:39:43 AM MST, Mary Kurian D'Souza via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
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<div><div id="yiv4887005844"><div><div dir="ltr">Thank you Dawn for your birthday witness.<div><br clear="none"></div><div>A Muslim associate and I were walking down a street in Mumbai in the early 70s</div><div>A dead body was being taken to be cremated by the family.</div><div>She then told me of a Muslim practice.</div><div>She was taught and encouraged to say quietly </div><div>'You go ahead,</div><div>I follow after"</div><div>(This is a loose translation)</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>This practice allows one to own one's own death.</div><div><br clear="none"></div></div><br clear="none"><div class="yiv4887005844gmail_quote"><div class="yiv4887005844yqt1263945792" id="yiv4887005844yqtfd55380"><div class="yiv4887005844gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Fri, Jan 10, 2020 at 5:39 PM Ellie Stock via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div><blockquote class="yiv4887005844gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;">Hi Isobel. Prayers for Australia. Hope the monsoon rains make it to the southeast.<div><br clear="none"></div><div>Ellie :)</div><div><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:elliestock@aol.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:elliestock@aol.com">elliestock@aol.com</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none">-----Original Message-----<br clear="none">From: isobeljimbish--- via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br clear="none">To: Order Ecumenical Community <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br clear="none">Cc: <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au" target="_blank" href="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au">isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au</a> <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au" target="_blank" href="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au">isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au</a>><br clear="none">Sent: Thu, Jan 9, 2020 11:09 PM<br clear="none">Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Birthday Witness. Now the New York Times chimes in . ..<br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328"><div>Thanks Judi, we are struggling through another very hot day with various fires at ‘watch and act’ stage in NSW and Victoria. <div>The monsoon season has begun in the North west of Australia. This may probably bring some moisture to us in the South east, by and by.</div><div>We are grateful for all the international firefighters who have come down here, so thank you to yours !👏👏🐨🌏🌠</div><div>Our summer will be long and different now. </div><div>Greetings and love,</div><div>Isobel Bishop <br clear="none"><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div dir="ltr" id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328AppleMailSignature">Sent from my iPhone</div><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328yqt03555"><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none">On 10 Jan 2020, at 3:45 pm, Dawn Collins via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div style=""><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328ydp83bc42acyiv2545744963"><div><div style=""><div></div>
<div dir="ltr"> Birthday Witness</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">Capturing the moments spent tending to mom during her final transition, I find I owned my death...</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">At 92 on August 15, 2015, mom rode the train to glory after being unconscious for several days before her demise. She spent her last days at home cared for 24/7 by my younger sister, Janet, my oldest daughter, Traci and myself. Since Traci and Jan worked, I was with mom for greater stints of time.</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">Mom received the word from her heart specialist in the hospital after suffering a second stroke and heart attack. He relayed to her that the medicine he was prescribing would only temporarily prolong her life and to get her affairs in order. "You know what that means?" "Yes", she replied, I'm going to die soon." I still have her hospital lunch menu from March of that year. </div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">We watched the movie (cartoon), Brave on the mounted TV together and I commented from time to time as we silently joined in viewing the entire film. (I saw the cartoon, Frozen earlier and like Brave better).</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">After her release to home, we tended her body and spirit with certain duties being given to the three of us. I was helping her with breakfast when she suddenly upchucked a bit and went to sleep. She was breathing markedly and her right side was paralyzed. I crawled in behind her on the bed and rested a bit while listening to her breaths filling the room.</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">I received the call at my home that mom's last breath was at 3 a.m. that August morn. And the three of us gathered together and so began the mourning and practical preparations for what had become her journey's end.</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">And now approaching my 80th year I'm conscious of the ashes I was apportioned in a small urn on my altar, and mark the times I pause and fill the moment with a desire to call her on the phone or share with the family the remembrance of that precious soul with, "As granny used to say." </div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">I wonder, will I be remembered thusly in a moment of shared humor or soberness?</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">Kindfully yours,</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">dawn</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr">We love the Creator/Source/Spirit because the Final Reality loved us first.</div><div dir="ltr">1 John 4:19</div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none"></div>
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On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 08:08:56 PM MST, isobeljimbish--- via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:
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<div><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328"><div>Thank you Del and all of you who have emailed and Fb us. <div>The country is on fire indeed. </div><div>We hope that leadership will prevail and that those former Fire Commissioners who asked to meet the Prime Minister in March last year, to discuss preparations for what conflagration they predicted was coming in the summer- that now he and his colleagues will listen, at last. </div><div>Another positive outcome I believe, is that the First Peoples will have a platform to share their own skills and fire management strategies, thousands of years old. Already their wisdom is being sought. </div><div>I live with hope in my heart that these two drives forward will happen. </div><div>We do much appreciate your concern. </div><div>Thank you all.</div><div>Grace and peace and love be yours,</div><div>Isobel Bishop <br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div dir="ltr" id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328AppleMailSignature">Sent from my iPhone</div><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328yqt11617"><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none">On 9 Jan 2020, at 10:43 am, Del Morrill via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"></div></blockquote></div></div></div><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328yqt99865"><div><div><p><span>With these disastrous fires in Australia our thoughts are often with our friends there, and more than a bit worried.</span></p><p><span>Del (and Justin too)</span></p><p><span> </span></p><div><div style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0in 0in;"><p><b>From:</b> OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>isobeljimbish--- via OE<br clear="none"><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, January 4, 2020 12:17 PM<br clear="none"><b>To:</b> Judi White <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:sophiacircle@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:sophiacircle@gmail.com">sophiacircle@gmail.com</a>><br clear="none"><b>Cc:</b> <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au" target="_blank" href="mailto:isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au">isobeljimbish@optusnet.com.au</a>; Order Ecumenical Community <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>><br clear="none"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Birthday Witness. Now the New York Times chimes in . ..</p></div></div><p> </p><p>Thank you Judi for this reflection. </p><div><p>Yesterday Elaine Telford celebrated her 80th Birthday in style !</p></div><div><p>Family and friends gathered with the vast network of people Elaine has touched with her extraordinary life.! I </p></div><div><p>A happy moment, in the midst of our raging bush fires. </p></div><div><p>With love,</p></div><div><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;">Isobel Bishop </p><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328AppleMailSignature"><p>Sent from my iPhone</p></div><div><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;"><br clear="none">On 5 Jan 2020, at 2:54 am, Judi White <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:sophiacircle@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:sophiacircle@gmail.com">sophiacircle@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;"><div><div><p><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://m.dailygood.org/story/2236/the-joy-of-being-a-woman-in-her-seventies-mary-pipher/">http://m.dailygood.org/story/2236/the-joy-of-being-a-woman-in-her-seventies-mary-pipher/</a>. Yessterday was the funeral for a friend. She and I and five others in our local social group reached 75 this year. She found out 3 months ago that her days were incurably numbered. She prepared for yesterday in extensive detail and spent all her remaining time loving being near her family. In the one conversation I had with her she shared that she was at peace with deeply acknowledging that the upcoming final moment is a natural conclusion, from which she was not exempt. She also said that each day of decline was presenting a new challenge for her to embrace. She said she was grateful for these challenges which gave her an opportunity to ask her resilience to support her. I imagine that she, a long time 5th grade teacher, did not pass up one opportunity to role model and share her perspective with her family as they remained close to her. The happiness that she brought to their lives and ours reigned throughout yesterday's celebration of Beverly Phillip's life now completed. </p></div><p> </p><div><div><p>On Sat, Jan 4, 2020, 4:19 AM isobeljimbish--- via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="border-top:none;border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:1pt solid rgb(204,204,204);padding:0in 0in 0in 6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;"><div><p>Dear Randy,</p><div><p>Thank you for this reflection. I appreciate it very much as it occasioned me to remember how my Dad and I spent a month in preparation for his death. </p></div><div><p>With love </p></div><div><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;">Isobel Bishop </p><div id="yiv4887005844gmail-m_5275623813519499701yiv7062216328m_7729042309616078063AppleMailSignature"><p>Sent from my iPhone</p></div><div><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;"><br clear="none">On 4 Jan 2020, at 6:39 am, Randy Williams via OE <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;"><div><div><p>My mother died in March of 2001 at age 90. I spent every waking hour of her last five days with her. She was conscious and cognizant until about the last eight hours before she died. We had some incredible conversations on: What is death? What is it like to die? What will it be like after we die? I attribute the quality of the dialogue to, one, neither of us acted as if we actually knew the answers to the questions but we were both willing to struggle for some clarity. And two, neither of us tried to kid the other about the fact that she was dying. This freed us both up to share honestly and from the depths. I feel certain we both had our lives changed and our love for each other deepened during those five unforgettable last days for her. I would love to talk with a loved one about those same questions when my time nears. </p></div><div><p>Randy</p></div><div><p><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;"><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;">On Jan 3, 2020, at 12:39 PM, James Wiegel via Dialogue <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net">dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net</a>> wrote:</p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;"><div><p style="margin-bottom:12pt;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/nyregion/ruth-willig-oldest-death.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20200103§ion=longRead?campaign_id=9&instance_id=14935&segment_id=20013&user_id=505cb1dd7896a746e64ebf529d31e095®i_id=77723647ion=longRead">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/nyregion/ruth-willig-oldest-death.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20200103§ion=longRead?campaign_id=9&instance_id=14935&segment_id=20013&user_id=505cb1dd7896a746e64ebf529d31e095®i_id=77723647ion=longRead</a></p><div><p>With Respect,</p><div><p>Jim Wiegel</p></div></div><p>_______________________________________________<br clear="none">Dialogue mailing list<br clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net">Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br clear="none"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" 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