Beloved Colleagues -- Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it. Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle. First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys. I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us. The peace of God is yours this day -- Gordon
Gordon, I salute you right back, sir. You’ve always struck me as a gentle intellectual giant and for the contributions of mind and heart you have made to our movement, I give thanks and celebrate a life well and fully lived. Thank you for reaching out, letting us know what is going on and giving us all a chance to to be with you in these final days. Terran E. Longacre Monrovia, Liberia just another child of God Blog: http://tlongacre.wordpress.com <http://tlongacre.wordpress.com/> Run Blog: http://revruns.blogspot.com <http://revruns.blogspot.com/> Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlongacre/ <http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlongacre/> ———-O0ooo— ———–(——)— ————)–-/—- ————(_/- —-ooo0O—- —-(——)—- —–\-–(– ——\_)-
On 4 Sep, 2015, at 04:19 , Gordon Harper via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Beloved Colleagues --
Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it.
Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle.
First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys.
I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us.
The peace of God is yours this day --
Gordon
_______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
Hey Gordo – thanks for your brief collegium which has triggered a wave of notes back to you and Roxanna. Now that you’ve got our attention…I was thinking that this ‘turn’ in your journey could be the occasion for several online dialogues in the days and weeks ahead. “We” could suggest some topics, you could select a couple or more and convene a dialogue for all of us to join. Such as: “The final miles”…(essentially already in motion) or, “Sustaining a life of service” how to stick at it, in the midst of the future blowing wildly in our faces… or… Well, not to prescribe your priorities or add to your bucket list, but your engagement going forward with all of us could include some swan-song dialogues…Blessing on the road ahead! In Peace, Sherwood From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Gordon Harper via OE Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2015 10:19 PM To: ICA/OE List Serves; Order Ecumenical Community Subject: [Oe List ...] A Very Brief Collegium Beloved Colleagues -- Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it. Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle. First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys. I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us. The peace of God is yours this day -- Gordon
Gordon, In the short time that I've known you, I have come to appreciate your long-suffering facilitation skills and well-considered advice. You shine as a beacon in this community. May God grant you the grace to accept what you cannot change and the strength to fight like hell for what you can change. Steve Ediger Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas <http://www.poemhunter.com/dylan-thomas/poems/> ᐧ Steve Ediger 773-920-7350 (google voice) 505-426-7088 (mobile) On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 11:19 PM, Gordon Harper via OE < oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Beloved Colleagues --
Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it.
Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle.
First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys.
I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us.
The peace of God is yours this day --
Gordon
_______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
Dear Gordon, I remember the first week I was in Taipei in 1991, April. Gordon was there and I hear the strange whine and buzz sound in the morning of what I found out was the internet connection. We had that sound in Manila, and KL too, but not so regularly heard each day at the same time marking the day. There was the faint smell of sweet pipe smoke lingering on everything in your office. There was later to be a scale which, when you join weight watchers, helps you figure out how much you can eat, which I still have today. Peter Hu would rise every morning and go to the roof and do his exercises like a military man, even though he was a a former journalist and knew who most all of the people in town were, or could find out and spoke clear English. He ate raw vegetables he cut and placed in a bag in the frig that he ate each morning. There was a radio newscast on ICRT, "Shape the Future" or something, where Gordon's melodious voice could be heard daily with a quote for the day and a reflection on how business and leadership could relate to what was happening in the world and in their lives. There were books written by our famous author in residence, who would often on the street be asked for an autograph in a Chinese translated book. Larry came to a Global ICA conference in 1990 to Taiwan. It was held at the International Jiantan Youth Hostel across the street from the Grand Hotel and the multitude of morning exercising marshall artists on the mountain near the bridge and river. After that, Larry and Evelyn and Dick and Gail came to Taiwan in 1991... who knew how this set up a climate of new adventures...remember the 20th Anniversary of ICA video you created before you left? Thank you Gordon. Fenton's were still here. Vicky and Ben and a host of many others... A fleeting memory of things gone by which are still emerging... Evelyn Kurihara Philbrook Institute of Cultural Affairs: Taiwan -- Facilitator and Social Artist 3Fl, #12, Lane 5, Tien Mu West Road Taipei, Taiwan 11156 Tel:8862-2871-3150 email:joyful52@gmail.com orjoyful@icatw.com skype: joyfuleakp Cell: 886926682821
Thank you Steve for choosing Dylan’s tough love poem. Good to have many tones and many perspectives to view the last mile or two. Best regards, Sherwood From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Steve Ediger via OE Sent: Friday, September 4, 2015 4:45 PM To: Gordon Harper Cc: ICA/OE List Serves; Order Ecumenical Community Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] A Very Brief Collegium Gordon, In the short time that I've known you, I have come to appreciate your long-suffering facilitation skills and well-considered advice. You shine as a beacon in this community. May God grant you the grace to accept what you cannot change and the strength to fight like hell for what you can change. Steve Ediger Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. <http://www.poemhunter.com/dylan-thomas/poems/> Dylan Thomas <http://cat.ny.us.criteo.com/delivery/lg.php?cppv=1&cpp=OwjabHxiMnpldEF3VTdPRm96QVRGN2xKb3pJenJ3bElPbTlYWkpVa3l5NFNKQTFLUmlHQ2owMWhMMWpmQTdSYXZGajlVa1pQRHI4REZQVkZLLzJtWkgxNEE5TWpXNzVBOGtYVDZYSHdJWWI3R1dBZVVIQ0w1Vm9oa2JzWlcyK3hCenJKYUZwZjNoWk1qNi9oS1hjdFlpWnAyK2srbXlKQzN0bE14Wkt3WTRJNGF5V05EdkN2S3VyRW5XVGRqczBYQ3pqNklpcWcwNW1xaVZhQ3dtZElTU3B0T2d0QW00OGN2YlpvV0d2ZTljTkZEQVUwPXw%3D> <https://mailfoogae.appspot.com/t?sender=ac3RldmVlZGlnZXJAZ21haWwuY29t&type=zerocontent&guid=bddf2ccc-b07e-42e5-a674-87c64d651477> ᐧ Steve Ediger 773-920-7350 (google voice) 505-426-7088 (mobile) On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 11:19 PM, Gordon Harper via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Beloved Colleagues -- Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it. Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle. First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys. I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us. The peace of God is yours this day -- Gordon _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
Oh, my, Gordon. You were supposed to live forever! And I rather suspect you will, whatever anyone says to debunk the idea of something coming after. I expect to, myself, and I expect you to as well. What a gift you are to all of us, now and forever, to us and those who come after us. Having been through something the doctors thought to be terminal about 13 years ago, I came to terms with surrender, and when it turned out not to be fatal after all, I remember this flash of disappointment—I had been so ready for the journey, the next adventure. After all, what hubris to think that we puny human beings, striving against that wind that blows so finely and so fiercely, are the sheer culmination of this strange thing called “life” and “spirit”.! I doubt not at all that there is something amazing waiting to happen when we shed these earthly bonds. Expecting to see you on the other side, dear friend, whenever either of us gets there. P.s. doctors don’t know everything or I wouldn’t still be here. Susan Susan Fertig-Dykes (personal email account) Please note: my personal email address has changed. Please change your contact information for me to reflect the new address, which is SFERTIG@BLUESKYTECH.US<mailto:SFERTIG@BLUESKYTECH.US>. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought . Isaiah 58:11 STOP E-MAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING Protect your family and friends Please use "BCC" when sending to multiple addresses! Please delete E-Mail addresses when forwarding! Please be kind and remove my email address when you forward. NOTE: I won’t be offended if you ask me to remove you from my emails. From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Gordon Harper via OE Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 12:19 AM To: ICA/OE List Serves; Order Ecumenical Community Subject: [Oe List ...] A Very Brief Collegium Beloved Colleagues -- Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it. Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle. First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys. I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us. The peace of God is yours this day -- Gordon
Dear Gordon, Thank you for the care you show for us in your letter, as you have done so many times before in other contexts. You've always had a very visible seat on my meditative council and I'm so glad for all the exchanges we've had over the years, particularly the years spent together dealing with all kind of issues in Maharashtra. Our sense of the world is coloured by the people we know and I'm fortunate to know you. Although you've gotten a headstart and may be closer to the destination than many of us, I have this sneaky desire that you'll get delayed here and there so we can enjoy your company a little longer. If not, I'm right there on your tail, getting inspired by you how to finish this journey in style. grace and peace, Dharma On Saturday, 5 September 2015, 11:04, Susan Fertig via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: #yiv7546692769 #yiv7546692769 -- _filtered #yiv7546692769 {font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv7546692769 {font-family:Tahoma;panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} _filtered #yiv7546692769 {panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;} _filtered #yiv7546692769 {panose-1:3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1;}#yiv7546692769 #yiv7546692769 p.yiv7546692769MsoNormal, #yiv7546692769 li.yiv7546692769MsoNormal, #yiv7546692769 div.yiv7546692769MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;}#yiv7546692769 a:link, #yiv7546692769 span.yiv7546692769MsoHyperlink {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv7546692769 a:visited, #yiv7546692769 span.yiv7546692769MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv7546692769 p {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12.0pt;}#yiv7546692769 span.yiv7546692769EmailStyle18 {font-variant:normal;color:windowtext;text-transform:none;text-decoration:none none;vertical-align:baseline;}#yiv7546692769 .yiv7546692769MsoChpDefault {} _filtered #yiv7546692769 {margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}#yiv7546692769 div.yiv7546692769WordSection1 {}#yiv7546692769 Oh, my, Gordon. You were supposed to live forever! And I rather suspect you will, whatever anyone says to debunk the idea of something coming after. I expect to, myself, and I expect you to as well. What a gift you are to all of us, now and forever, to us and those who come after us. Having been through something the doctors thought to be terminal about 13 years ago, I came to terms with surrender, and when it turned out not to be fatal after all, I remember this flash of disappointment—I had been so ready for the journey, the next adventure. After all, what hubris to think that we puny human beings, striving against that wind that blows so finely and so fiercely, are the sheer culmination of this strange thing called “life” and “spirit”.! I doubt not at all that there is something amazing waiting to happen when we shed these earthly bonds. Expecting to see you on the other side, dear friend, whenever either of us gets there. P.s. doctors don’t know everything or I wouldn’t still be here. Susan Susan Fertig-Dykes (personal email account) Please note: my personal email address has changed. Please change your contact information for me to reflect the new address, which isSFERTIG@BLUESKYTECH.US. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought . Isaiah 58:11 STOP E-MAIL ADDRESS HARVESTING Protect your family and friends Please use "BCC" when sending to multiple addresses! Please delete E-Mail addresses when forwarding! Please be kind and remove my email address when you forward. NOTE: I won’t be offended if you ask me to remove you from my emails. From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net]On Behalf Of Gordon Harper via OE Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 12:19 AM To: ICA/OE List Serves; Order Ecumenical Community Subject: [Oe List ...] A Very Brief Collegium Beloved Colleagues -- Few of us, as the end of life approaches, get the chance to speak directly to anything like our whole community. It appears that I have that opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it. Last week, after two months of medical testing to find out what had suddenly landed on me and drained me of my strength and usual energy, Roxana and I got the diagnosis. It’s a rare form of fairly fast moving (typically two months to two years) leukemia, called CMML. There’s little to be done to treat it, especially in someone my age (about to be 79). I'm getting good medical care and have a fine local support community here in Seattle. First of all, I want you all to know that I am at peace with this, as is Roxana. My life--in good part because of you--has been rich, crazy, wonder-filled and a unique and unrepeatable journey with the Mystery. And no one knows better than you and I how to celebrate both our being here and the completion of our journeys. I am taking this rare chance to express to all of you how much you’ve meant to me over the years--as the amazing collection of individual nobodies we are that rode out like the Man of La Mancha to throw our beings into the challenge of bending history. More than that, you all contributed your own weird and special gifts, neuroses and idiosyncrasies to the makeup of our corporate life and community, all over the world. Without you, there’d never have been such a community; so thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope to be able to chat with at least some of you individually or collectively over the time remaining to me, through one of the dizzying array of communication tools at hand today, and give you a little abuse. (What else would you expect from me? And please--do return the favor.) We’ll see how things work out. In the meantime, this note will have to stand for my salute to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for your having been and continuing to be who you are and for that remarkable webbing and mission that connects us. The peace of God is yours this day -- Gordon _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
participants (7)
-
Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via Dialogue -
Evelyn Philbrook via Dialogue
-
Gordon Harper via Dialogue
-
Sherwood Shankland via Dialogue
-
Steve Ediger via Dialogue
-
Susan Fertig via Dialogue
-
Terran Longacre via Dialogue