[Dialogue] Gratitude

[Marilyn R Crocker]

Dear Colleagues,

Joe and I experienced deep refreshment and gratitude this past weekend as
we joined with colleagues in Canada to participate in a second
celebration of the completed life of R. Brian Stanfield, who has been a
beloved spirit presence to our family for almost four decades. Brian and
Jeanette, Ben Crocker's godparents, cared for, guided and informed his
journey since 1970 when we all were in the Sydney House.

Duncan Holmes led a powerful liturgy that included movement songs;
prayers; statements about Brian's four great lifetimes (cf Tagore),
modelled after the fine celebration that took place in Australia; and
witnesses from Brian's longtime colleagues as well as very recent
acquaintances, some of whom had only come to know him through his
writing.  Jeanette's presence for this event and her witness as caregiver
to Brian during his last year of life was particularly special.

We were struck by the ever-widening circle of people who have been
nurtured/equipped/transformed by Brian's book, The Courage to Be and its
leadership training extentions offered by ICA: Canada.

Following the service Stan and Miriam Gibson hosted an evening of
reconnecting --  light and serious conversation, hilarious reminiscing
and profound reflection.  All of this was enhanced by the Gibsons'
delightfully gracious presence, lovely home and family, and matchless
Indian cuisine -- food those of us who live in the woods of Maine would
die for! 

We were encouraged as we learned about ICA:Canada's model of
sustainability and program outreach -- a win/win construct that we hope
will inform the ICA USA Board as it repositions its leadership direction.

Especially Joe and I remembered and remembered -- in ongoing
conversations with Jeanette and Heidi Holmes, who hosted us with great
love over the weekend.  Top of mind were those beloved ones in Australia
-- Brian and Rhonda Robins; Barry and Margaret Oakley; Jim and Isobel
Bishop; Garnet and Lis Banks; Robyn and John Hutchinson; Jonathan and
Jeanine Barker; David and Susan White; Ann and Rob Duffy; Katrin and Ian
Ogilvy; Ray and Elaine Richmond; Rebecca, Kathryn and Peter Bishop and so
many others from our time in the Sydney House.  

And because so many of us gathered in that place had been assigned to
India we remembered even more extensively:  Aisha, Madan, Jim & Judy,
Bimrao, Manu, Miriam (as a teenager!), Vinod & Kamela, Cyprian & Mary, 
Ellen, Sandra & Keith, Chokibaba, Singh, Brian & Helen, Sumanbai,
Hausabai, Dondiram & Shankar.............

Joe and I drove back to Maine "levitating" -- feeling deeply gifted,
profoundly moved, and called again to serve.

Thank you, Jeanette, Heidi, Duncan and ICA Canada!

Grace, peace and love,

Marilyn and Joe


Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711
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