I attached the photo I mentioned in the previous message to your LinkedI'n messaging function, as I was surprised to not have your email address in my address book; I lost many emails this past winter due to a computer crash.

Happy Anniversary Michael. I just returned from several days in Ireland. I thought of you while there and want to share a picture with you. Not sure how to do it on this site so I will email it to you. Love, Albert

Happy Anniversary Michael. I just returned from several days in Ireland. I thought of you while there and want to share a picture with you. Not sure how to do it on this site so I will email it to you. Love, Albert

Happiest of Anniversaries, Michael and Jenny! I remember lettering up your certificate, then feeling protective of it during your beautiful wedding outside the city. You both radiated love in all directions that day--and of course ever since. EB

Hi Michael,

The connection for me is “forever young” Dylan cover song.

There were many firsts in my life, with Jenny and You, which I don’t think you guys know. My first oatmeal ever, I had at your place. I still eat oatmeal and I remember vividly the firs time I had it. My first ever hike, I went with you, to such a serene setting. So there are these symbols and situations that connects me with you.

One of my other firsts was attending a Quaker worship for the first time. I remember, when I first went with you there was a dedication for a new born baby, and you played the guitar and sang “forever young”. It was so simple, humble but left an indelible memory in me. At that moment I thought, if ever I had a child, this is the kind of dedication I want.

Next time when you eat oatmeal, go for short hike or listen to forever young, hopefully you feel a connection. Because I certainly do.

With the fondest if memories from China
Dev

Mike, I have a memory I want to share with you. It was back in the days when you were Executive Director of FNVW, and in that capacity you came to People Camp, which my family has been attending each year now for about 30 years. And we had a big game of Ultimate Frisbee down on the green. I remember you there, the best player on either team because you were so tall and fast and could jump higher than anyone. And Jenny was there too, and she was blazing fast herself. I was on the opposing team from you and Jenny, and I remember I ended up "covering" Jenny a lot, because I recognized that her speed made her a constant threat. As I recall, I kept yelling to my teammates for help, but not getting it. In those days, I was already well past my prime physically, and was never a fast runner, so as you can imagine, I was repeatedly "burned." But I always put out maximum physical effort when engaged in a sport, because that is what transports me, so I was doing that again. Well it happened that someone on my team launched the Frisbee into your team's goal, so that if anyone on our team caught it, our team would score. But it seemed like it was too far away for anyone to catch it. Nevertheless, I began sprinting toward the Frisbee at maximum speed. Jenny was nearby, but did not give chase, apparently realizing that I had little chance. But as you may recall, a Frisbee will occasionally hang in the air for an uncannily long time before it slowly floats to the ground, and that is what happened. And as I sprinted along toward the Frisbee, I had an amazing experience that I have only had a handful of times in my life. It felt like the rest of the world disappeared except for me and that Frisbee, and with my mind having such singular focus, I felt a complete sense of oneness. And somehow, when I was near the Frisbee it was still just above the ground, and I dove for it, stretched full length, and the Frisbee settled into my hand. But the thing popped out of my hand and hit the ground! “Goal!”, you shouted immediately. No, I meekly pointed out, I had dropped it. It was not supposed to matter, anyway – I’m not sure we were even keeping score, and my unusual experience had been the result of the effort, not the result. But for some reason, you insisted: “It should count anyway!” And somehow you persuaded everybody that, unlike every single other dropped Frisbee in every other Frisbee game at People Camp and everywhere else, this one should count as a goal. And so it did. And this is the thing – even though the goal didn’t really matter to me or anybody, somehow the fact that you and everybody made an exception for me, mattered a lot, and gave me a feeling of validation that I will never forget. It seemed as though you somehow sensed my inner life, and seized on the opportunity to make contact. And this points to some of the special things about you – your sensitivity and compassion, your ability to see the things that lie beneath the surface and weave them into your living. Mike, I have long wanted to remind you of this incident, but have never quite been able to find words. At this point, I doubt that you have any recollection of it, but please consider this: that this type of thing may have happened many times because of things you said and did, because of who you are, and because of the powerful way you have lived.

Michael, you have been an amazing teacher to me. I often lean into things I've seen you do when leading groups or ways you've been with me 1:1. That teaching keeps extending out to others and I know has an impact far beyond me. Such an incredible gift. When I think of something that connects us many things come to mind. Today what I'm thinking about is the way that our connections to religion and spiritual community have been important in our journeys. And, so I'm sharing a song from my tradition that is a message that I know we both believe in. Olam Hesed Y'baneh -- we will build this world from loving kindness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHp-jcPlKIY Sending so much love and loving kindness to you and Jenny and all that is holding you both.

You are held by the saints below and angels above in this deep mystery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXMWjtsdIiU

I feel an unusual closeness to you despite having a more 'acquaintance' type and collegial relationship then others in your circles have. And this closeness is largely a function I would say of the extraordinary intimacy you provide in your sharing, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate being able to reflect on my own abilities in this area after each time I read your posts. Thank you good friend.

Possibility. Always possibility. In the moment, each moment. In the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories we share with each other. In taking risks, living until the last breath. In walking the threshold between this world and the next curious about both. In continued connection and the promises it holds. In loving loving loving whether there is everything left and nothing left, trusting it is the same thing.

I am grateful to you, for you, and the invitation you so graciously offer all of us into possibility. 🙏🏻