[Oe List ...] David McCleskey's Memorial Service

[RICHARD HOWIE]

Thank You Jack, for your profound care for all of us.
I note that the address below is different from the one in our 2008  
Directory, where I sent a tryptic to Pat & David some weeks ago.  Do  
you know if the Directory address is correct also?
Grace and Peace, Ellen Howie
On Aug 25, 2008, at 12:42 PM, Jack Gilles wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> “To serve, sing, and dance – A symphony of peace for all Earth’s  
> people – Beginning with myself”     Personal mission statement of  
> David McCleskey.
>
> I have spent the last three days with Pat Webb in preparation for  
> and the conducting of David’s Memorial service.  I had the  
> opportunity to read every one of the letters, cards and emails that  
> many of you sent to Pat & David.  What a Profound community we  
> are!  Yesterday, the day after the service, I rode with Pat as we  
> re-visited the places that she and David lived in OKC.  Each place  
> was an opportunity for her to share what was happening in their  
> life at that point and what David was about.  This was important  
> for Pat and I’m glad I was there to listen.
>
> I want to share some of the experience of David’s service.  There  
> were about 130 people present only a few of whom were Order or  
> Movemental colleagues.  Conna Shropshire played the piano and Bill  
> and Susanne Parker were part of the service, bringing some symbols  
> of David’s service to the world through ICA to the altar.  Pat and  
> her two sons, Craig and Kirk at her side, held up magnificently  
> throughout the entire event, even through the singing of the  
> closing hymn, For All the Saints, which she was sure would cause  
> her to she cry uncontrollably.   She didn’t, she stood with radiant  
> joy and sang with all of us.
>
> This was one of the great experiences of my life.  There are not  
> words to describe either the feeling or the meaning of what  
> happened, but I’ll try and give you a taste of what went on for me.  
> We hope to eventually scan the service document and post it on the  
> Repository, but here is the flow.  The service was recorded and a  
> CD will be produced, but no video was made.
>
> At the front of a U shaped congregational seating was a bare cloth- 
> covered altar with only a large unlit candle.  In front of the  
> alter was another table low to the floor with lots of drums,  
> feathers, baskets and other Native American artifacts.  At each  
> front corner, high on the wall, was a large screen with a picture  
> of David.  David’s ashes were in a meditation room above and over  
> the entrance to the sanctuary.  Several of us sat in prayer with  
> them prior to the service.
>
> After an opening invocation and a bell, there was a silent  
> procession to the Altar of people bringing symbols of David’s life  
> journey; from his youth, EI/ICA/OE period, his recent years and  
> finally his Fulfillment and legacy.  Then there was a Native  
> American woman who did a sage blessing over everything, sand at the  
> four sides of the altar and a feather held to the four cardinal  
> directions, all done in silence.   As Conna played movement songs,  
> a slide show of David’s life played on the two giant screens.  What  
> a delight!  We sang Those Who Wait on the Lord, after which I did a  
> Eulogy on David’s life journey.  A marvelous local group sang a  
> couple of wonderful songs for us.  Larry Ward did a profound spin  
> on David, death and the Buddhist perspective.  He evoked David’s  
> sacred dharma name given to him in 2005, True Mountain of  
> Goodness.  This was Larry at his most profound and transparent.    
> There was a closing by the pastor, a prayer of unison and a singing  
> of For All the Saints.  The candle was lit and a closing bell  
> rung.  Afterwards, many joined together in a fine dinner at the  
> church.
>
> I am filled with many profound thoughts, most of which I won’t  
> share at this time.  The last couple of days of David’s dying were  
> filled with amazing events that Pat spent hours sharing with me.   
> His transition was a profound address to all who participated in  
> it.  His cremation service was itself another transparency event.  
> But I wanted to share one thought in particular that addressed me  
> so strongly.  The understanding of the Word “To Die is To Live,”  
> came to me with absolute overwhelming power and truth.  David’s  
> dying and death were the most life-giving experience I have had.   
> His living presence in his home (I slept in his bed) and his  
> presence at the service were real, palpable, and filled the space  
> with peace and goodness.  Those who came to be at a memorial  
> service to say goodbye, were instead presented with the gift of  
> experiencing Eternal Life, right there, now and forever!  What a  
> gift to give to the living!  Resurrection is just the way life is.   
> When you die an authentic death, which David did, that very dying  
> gives life.  David gave all of us life; his life, our life, the  
> eternal life.
>
> Finally, I would ask all of you to keep Patricia in your prayers.   
> Her grief is profound and her dependence on David for so much of  
> the ordinary things in their life was great.  She has been granted  
> a month leave of paid absence from her teaching work.  That is a  
> blessing and she hopes to travel to Florida to visit her 95year old  
> mother with her two boys next week.  She also plans to do some  
> writing of her experiences during this whole time.  She is getting  
> some amazing messages from David, including ones for both Larry and  
> myself that she has shared.  She plans to respond to your cards and  
> letters when she can.  For those who are so moved, donations in  
> David’s name can be made to their Silence Foundation, P.O Box  
> 20934, Oklahoma City, OK, 73156.
>
> Grace is yours, and Peace,
>
> Jack
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