Jim Bergman, R.I.P.
It is a sobering shock when one suddenly loses a long time friend who was apparently well.
Our SGN friend for many years, Jim Bergman, died suddenly Tuesday evening, December 14. We learned about this just after our retreat was concluded the next day. He was born the same year as I, in 1929, and was 75. Although he had heart problems, he was exercising regularly.
It is impossible to say in a few words what a particular friend has meant. Jim was a kind and caring man, a gentleman and a scholar--well loved by many. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. His obit was in the Lexington Herald-Leader of December 16.
Death alone brings life fully into perspective: how much of life we take for granted; how little we recognize the preciousness of every day and of friendship. Visitation is set for 5 to 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, at the Lewis FuneralHome in Irvine and the funeral at 9-10:00 a.m. Saturday, at the First Christian Church, Irvine. Our prayers will follow Betty, his wife, and his family.
While on retreat this week, Sister Paschalitta told us that her blindness was her "#1 gift," and we asked her about that.
Later, I asked myself what is my #1 gift?
My #1 gift is my faith, which is unearned and undeserved, and free
and mighty in its effect. Hope and Love also follow closely.
I had also decided earlier that my cancer is a gift and wrote a poem
about it. My physical diminishments, unnamed, are also a great gift,
because they help me realize the undeserved giftedness of everything,
every moment, every day, every event and every person.
We can begin to appreciate more fully what is truly important.
When we can begin in live in this kind of graciousness
--the radical gratuity of everything we are part of, e.g,
nothing whatever had to be this . . . way--
then we can begin to find Beauty everywhere.
And, guess what? We find what we are looking for!
Jim's friendship was a gift of beauty to all of us.
We will miss him. He most always had a great story
and something from his heart to share.
Our SGN friend for many years, Jim Bergman, died suddenly Tuesday evening, December 14. We learned about this just after our retreat was concluded the next day. He was born the same year as I, in 1929, and was 75. Although he had heart problems, he was exercising regularly.
It is impossible to say in a few words what a particular friend has meant. Jim was a kind and caring man, a gentleman and a scholar--well loved by many. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. His obit was in the Lexington Herald-Leader of December 16.
Death alone brings life fully into perspective: how much of life we take for granted; how little we recognize the preciousness of every day and of friendship. Visitation is set for 5 to 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, at the Lewis FuneralHome in Irvine and the funeral at 9-10:00 a.m. Saturday, at the First Christian Church, Irvine. Our prayers will follow Betty, his wife, and his family.
While on retreat this week, Sister Paschalitta told us that her blindness was her "#1 gift," and we asked her about that.
Later, I asked myself what is my #1 gift?
My #1 gift is my faith, which is unearned and undeserved, and free
and mighty in its effect. Hope and Love also follow closely.
I had also decided earlier that my cancer is a gift and wrote a poem
about it. My physical diminishments, unnamed, are also a great gift,
because they help me realize the undeserved giftedness of everything,
every moment, every day, every event and every person.
We can begin to appreciate more fully what is truly important.
When we can begin in live in this kind of graciousness
--the radical gratuity of everything we are part of, e.g,
nothing whatever had to be this . . . way--
then we can begin to find Beauty everywhere.
And, guess what? We find what we are looking for!
Jim's friendship was a gift of beauty to all of us.
We will miss him. He most always had a great story
and something from his heart to share.
posted by Paschal Baute at 10:23 AM
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