Colleagues--
    The Ecumentical Order of the Ecumenical Institute and the Institute of Cultural Affairs is now aging; I'm 81. As each of us passes on into the next what-ever, we have opportunities to express the meaning of what we've done because we are fulfilling our assignment. In 2014, I held my "Memorial for Me," and I had a good** time--the best. The result is a reflection on "Making A Friend Of Death."
    I share the following with you to grasp the spiritual depth to which the Order Ecumenical are privileged to live and die.
    If necessary, I apologize now for using Embolding and Color to demonstrate the theology of Goodness.The Order's use of this emphasis is one aid to appreciate the spiritual deeps to which we are drawn.  
    The response is from a friend whose presence is still precious to me. He is in the midst of a wonderful change herself. What he has written says something of what I wish to communicate to Gordon, wife and family, whose life and death is entertwined with mine.
    Inner Peace,
    Bill Salmon
From Gordon
      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--is good** inpart 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 
 
A former Order Member responds:
 
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.

Monrovia, Liberia
   Just another child of God 
 
**Good as it is use here is not moralistic. Rather, it is an ontological statement representing "The Way Life Is" (TWLI). Gordon and I could have an interesting dialogue regarding this point. Gordon, you will be missed.
    Bill