(some sort of
trouble connecting with OE/ICA, so sending from Lynda's e-mail, John
C.)
Charles and I had many good chats and
always brought up, with big laughs, our shoot-out at the Late Forrest saloon
when I told him I was leaving the Order and he told me I would go to hell and I told him to go to hell. We deeply appreciated each other, all said and done.
Last time I saw him was in Chicago a few years ago. We shook hands and held
on. I’m so glad. I liked and respected Charles, but hardly understood him, nor
him me, I am sure.
He was a deeply reflective, deeply sensitive, and deeply everything
kind of spirit man. I can imagine the process of his thinking from reading
the Holcombe UMC and Randy Williams articles. He sensed his time was running out
on how to change history, but by-god he committed himself to doing just
that in some way or other.
There is a big stir in the institutions and
communities mentioned in those news articles, and many people, including us, are
brought to a deeper reflection on how we change our nations and the Earth
community.
He used Bonhoeffer’s decision-making process and
obviously very intentionally decided to do what he did. Do I wish he
hadn’t? Yes. Do I understand his internal grappling with the state of
things these days? I think we all do. Will we be able to forget this event?
No. Will it cause us to reflect deeper about our given role in history?
Yes.
Charles, we give thanks for you and will remember you. Grace and
Peace are yours. Journey on.
John