Recently

On March 19, a dear friend and co-community member died, leaving me with a very heavy heart. I had known her for a long time and had become close during the last 18 months of her life as she faced one crisis after another. We were very different from each other. She had a large spirit and expansive manner. I am more retiring.

We lived near each other and I felt drawn to accompany her as much on her terms as possible as her health declined and other heart aches beset her. Years ago, while working in the Philippines, I experienced a remarkable and tender quality of the people. They always accompany each other completely in times of hardship and sorrow. As my friend faced painful decline, sorrow and loss, it became more and more clear to me that I now needed to live what I so admired in the Filipinos. In its deepest sense this became a profound experience in kenosis. Admittedly, I became quite drained. Nevertheless, I have only the deepest gratitude for the privilege of journeying to the end with my friend.