Goodbye to a Friend

I came home for a very quick visit … to say farewell to a great lady, a mentor, and a friend.  Marv, and his bride Sharon, have been such great examples of the vocation of marriage to me personally and to many, many others.  Together they have ministered to so many of us, sharing their love for each other and for us, by sharing their great love of God, first and foremost.

Sharon was the first person to teach me that it was ok to “pray outside the box” and to use art, nature, people, and many other “things” to feel a connection to God and one another.  We were on Fr. Rich’s very first pastoral council team together, almost 20 years ago when we first met.  Along with some of you, who were part of that wonderful team and time, we prayed and prayed and prayed some more!  Sharon was our “prayer leader” when we first started, mainly I think because she was comfortable preparing prayer time while many of the rest of us were like, “No Way Jose, I’m not planning a prayer session!  I have no idea what I’m doing!”  She would guide us in the most beautiful prayer times, using art in all its forms, and encouraged us to “Let Go and Let God” work through us during those formative years we spent together.  She was a leader and a lover, a mentor and a model.  Whenever I had questions about prayer or just needed to talk to someone about the stirrings of my heart, she was always there to listen and to guide.  She was a wonderful example to each of us on that team by the way she lived her life and shared her beautiful, unique spirituality.

These last few years, I had many opportunities to sit with her in the office and listen to her stories, and I am blessed by those sharing times.  I also had the opportunity to watch Marv and the ways in which he ministered to her … his bride.  She would sit in the deacons’ office or in one of ours, and just chat about whatever was in her heart at the moment.  She was still able to inspire me and, believe it or not, encourage me, with whatever it was that I happened to be working on.  I know that there are many of you who feel the same way about our dear Sharon.  She was always by Marv’s side and ours.  I am happy to know that I have yet another angel in heaven to watch over me, nudge me when I’m in need of spiritual guidance, and keep us all on our toes!  She was so great at that while she was here on earth that I have no doubt she’ll keep busy in heaven with her eyes and heart on all of us.

Sharon, a beautiful soul …

For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing and pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.  Wisdom 7:22-23

You, Sharon, were the wind beneath many of our wings.  Til we meet again, rest well.

For the rest of us, let’s keep Marv and the Estey Family in our prayers.  Talk to you tomorrow!