Whereas I am not a
particularly religious man, I do however strongly believe
in the power of self .... that undefined inner strength
that allows each of us to deal with the speed bumps along
life's highway... the trial's that test our will and the
disappointments, which are inevitable. As we journey down-life's pathway, once again we
have assembled together to share our
"self's"... that special bond that binds us,
one to another. We revel in our past joys; laugh at our
past experiences and gaze at one another in wonder and
amazement. Has he really changed that much? He's lost a
lot of his hair. - . He's gained some weight .... He
looks more like I remember how my father looked ... Am I
really that old too? My Lord. Where has the time gone?
The moments we've spent this weekend,
such as with our recent gathering in Oregon, have been
very special. A time to reminisce ... to reconnect ... to
be with our Brothers. It has been unique; wonderful in
its' splendor. And each of us can take pride in our
individual participation.
Like most things however, this too must
pass. And as we depart this morning, returning to our
daily routines, I would like us to stay conscious, at
least for the moment, that this will most likely be the
last time that all of us will be together .... that as
time marches on, she takes her toll ... and that one by
one, we succumb to the inevitable end of our time here,
... in this life.
But I'd like to think that these days
are simply a mark on a continuum .... that we are but
players on a stage .... that the next act is yet to
follow .... and that as characters in this play, we have
new roles, which will allow our paths to once again
entwine.
No one can ever take from us our past
.... and few are able to challenge our
"present". As to our future ... we can only
wish and hope and strive. My hope, is that those who
leave us first will always be remembered for their warmth
and their chars. That we keep then forever in our hearts
... that their soul lights a snail candle in the darkness
of our existence, which is yet to be. That as part of our
own continuum, we find that those who have preceded us,
are waiting .... waiting for us .... to help with the
task of laying the foundation and constructing the
framework for a new and even stronger brotherhood. My
hope, is that we discover that our past experiences are
simply the ,tools we'll be using to contribute to the
prosperity of the new whole.
And so, I wish for us all, the
prosperities and joys that lie ahead ... That our pains
and struggles be brief and few ... and for us all to keep
in - our hearts the warmth and brotherhood we share in
our yesterdays, our todays and the tomorrows that are yet
to be. For I truly believe that the words I penned some
thirty years ago, hold themselves to be self-evident and
have stood the test of time ....
That our brotherhood is,
"understood......
That "we are
one"...... "and stand as one"
God bless us all. Amen.
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