Thank you, Doris, for getting this reflection started. In the category of parents, I want to lift up the Mother of Leah Early, Dorothea Miller, who also died this year. In one of those strange coincidences of time and place, before we ever knew the Earlys, we had met the Millers in my parents’ church in Cleveland, TN. Later, Mr. Miller’s work took them to Galax, Va, John’s hometown, where they were in the same church as the Cock’s. When we returned to live in Galax in 1984, we met them again and enjoyed several years friendship with them there, plus getting to see the Earlys when they visited on holidays. In addition to giving us Leah, she was a dear friend to us and a spirit woman in her own right.
At this season of gratitude and remembrance, I lift up all our parents who set us upon our journeys and gave us wings (sometimes reluctantly) and lots of financial support to enable us to follow our own paths.
· The following are a few of the reflections on "All Saints Day" along with the list of colleagues who have died in the past year:
·
"I have been on a long journey to discover how to
see and cherish the sacredness throughout life. A saint is one who opens doors
to see what is important, profound, and lasting. Some saints in my life are
alive and some walk the Spirit world."
* Judy Gilles
*Charles Moore
*Janice Ulangca
*Ruth Carter
*Lois Reeves
*Maisie Maher
*Helen Walker
*Susan Moore Williams
*Chen I An
*Lariat Wiegel
*Wayne Nelson
*William Applegate
"You are always in the process of
encouraging and sustaining others (me) in being."
"
I dreamed of Daddy,A
healing dream,
Awakening
unburdened
From
the heavy load
I
didn't realize I carried.
I
don't recall the dream
But
awoke remembering
His
vast love for me
And
the words on his tomb:
'The
truth will set you free.'"
Amen. and Amen.