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Memorials to Jo Ann
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JoAnn, JO Ann….You reap what you sow? Unconditional love? Unconditional love is hard to practice as this all-spiritual concept in our gravity laden three- dimensional body. This experienced is heavy, clumsy, forgetful, frustrating and conditional. I loved Jo Ann like so many did and always will. And in honor I cannot look at my experience of her through rose-colored glasses. I saw a woman when I looked at her in life, and I see a woman when I remember her now. That woman lived as we all do with uninvited change, unmet expectations, greater burdens than anticipated, and aging toward the end less than gracefully. Clearly she never planned to spend her last years upon this planet trucking about an apparatus to allow her to breathe with less effort. The nursery tales, movies, TV shows and promises of happily ever after do not bring this part of reality into the equation. Jo Ann was once a powerful woman in her conception of the world. She was the instigator of change. She had the power of influence and the clout to make real her ideas. She married, divorced, had babies, hope, happiness, successes and disappointments, frustrations, and loss. To look at her she appeared meek and gentle with here snow white hair, frail body, and her ever-present “lung” oxygen tank on wheels. Not to be foiled by outward appearance, she remained strong-willed, determined, and influential to the end of her third dimensional being. But she got tired, very tired as the effort to carry off the innate stature of her persona became too exhausting and she was so ready to go. At her memorials I did not speak and therefore I take this opportunity now. Her stepson spoke describing a mother figure who pushed for the next instead of lauding the present accomplishment: It made me the man I am, very successful in business, he said, but a ‘atta boy’ would have been nice now and then. Others who spoke echoed his reflections of her. That tendency to push and ask others for more and not settling for present accomplishments was experiences by many others in various ways. Jo Ann had a lot of living to do and she seemed to feel there was never enough time to do it. Perhaps that is why she pushed so hard for so many others to move on to the next ‘thing’. Perhaps she believed that the only authentic ‘atta boys’ or ‘atta girls’ or the only ‘way to goes’ that are meaningful originate within the person. The ones that come from outside needed to be repeated over and over for lack of belief in ones self. Maybe she knew that. Maybe when she was younger and more vital she did not need validation from others. Maybe she did it her way and let the chips fall where they might. Maybe. Toward the end, however, she asked for validation frequently and maybe then she began to realize why others ask for acknowledgement even when there is an inward awareness of self. And maybe she realized that at times doubt creeps in and an appreciative voice other than one’s own helps to reinforce the wisdom within. Maybe she found that truth before she left. The last time I saw Jo Ann she told me she was tired and ready to go. I believed her and found that to be authentic. She said it with the quiet dignity of a warrior at the end of a well-fought battle, after a job well done; when the gauntlet is put away for the last time. I love Jo Ann, for all she was, for all she was not, and for all she remains to be in our minds and hearts. She was a remarkable woman. She made an impact! She was a woman who will not be forgotten! See You Later Jo Ann, Shirl |
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TO: JO ANN BOSLEY We met nearly 5 years ago. Early on, I discerned your wry sense of
humor, since laughing is one my favorite actions. It pleased me when
you asked me to provide a prayer or meditation several times when you
coordinated a service. Thank you for letting me contribute.
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| IN LOVING MEMORY OF JO ANN BY REV. JODY ROWE STALEY· A SOUL UPON HER SACRED JOURNEY, PASSED THROUGH THIS WAY HER EVOLVING QUEST TO KNOW AND SERVE THE CREATOR.THIS SHE ACCOMPLISHED IN HER DEEDS, IN HER WORDS, IN HER THOUGHTS. AMONG US SHE LIVED, LOVING GENTLE AND KIND. SHE TAUGHT US SO MANY THINGS, EACH ONE OF US BLESSED WITH A GIFT FROM BEING WITH HER, EACH GIFT UNIQUE AS SHE WAS. JOANN WE LOVE YOU, WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO RELENTLESSLY AS YOU DID. SOUL WAS THE VEHICLE THAT BROUGHT YOU TO ME, AND OTHERS. WE HAVE BEEN SO RICHLY BLESSED TO LIVE AND CELEBRATE SPIRIT IN YOUR PRESENCE. AS YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY AND WE ON OURS, IT IS HEARTFELT TO KNOW WE TRAVEL AS ONE YOU IN THE SPIRIT AND US HERE IN THE PHYSICAL. WE HEAR THE CELESTIAL VOICES SINGING, YOURS EVEN SWEETER NOW AS WE ALL JOURNEY IN THE EMBRACE OF CREATOR’S GLORY…………. |
IN LOVING MEMORY OF JO ANNREVEREND KEN HAMBLIN’S EULOGY“WHERE IS GOD?”READINGS: JOB 30:16-26; II TIMOTHY 4:6-8Life
is a river, rising from a mysterious source we call God. Each of us
joins the river of life at a place called birth. And that temporary
arrangement of atoms which creates our unique individuality dissolves
back into the great flow of Being at a place we call death. But what
does it mean-what does it all mean? The
only promise we bring into this life is that we will be impelled to
search for meaning throughout
our journey. Perhaps it’s the joys and sorrows-those bits and pieces
which add up to our life experience-that reveal something about the
purpose of our existence. Often we achieve some insight about ourselves
as the currents of our lives intermingle with others along the way.
And some of us believe that from time to time we get some glimpse
of the ultimate mystery-what we call God- through these personal encounters. If
it is true that we come face-to face with God by looking into the
faces of other people, then it is also true that life’s often painful
course can cloud our vision and harden our hearts. Perhaps the truth
is best seen and savored only in retrospect. Perhaps we come to recognize
God’s presence in our own lives because we once saw the face of God
in actions of others. If we find proof of God in acts of justice and
compassion, isn’t it because we have seen such qualities made manifest
in the special people whose lives have touched our own? Very
few of us are able to live completely on our own terms and die doing
exactly what we love. For most of us family commitments, career problems
and personal challenges complicate life. We learn all too soon that
the river of life has many bends, rapids, and whirlpools. It’s easy
to get off course and find ourselves paddling against the current. A
friend of mine died recently. Her journey down the river of life had
more than its share of white water to navigate. Yet her life added
value to our common existence because it manifested God’s presence. Like
many people, Joann Bosley’s trials increased as her life drew to a
close. Instead of enjoying the fruits of her life’s labor during her
senior years, Joann faced mounting challenges, not the least of which
was her gradually failing health. The sad thing is, those of us who
constituted Joann’s church family, were not to make a difference during
her last months with us. I count myself as one of those well-meaning
friends who couldn’t quite find the time, or the right words, or the
right ideas. All of us experienced a sense of helplessness The French existentialist writer and philosopher
Albert Camus believed that human beings are cast adrift in a cold,
morally neutral Universe. In the end, it makes no difference what
you do- no action is better or worse than another. Camus struggled
with the implications of this philosophy and gradually came to believe
that moral actions were not only possible, but necessary, to affirm
and protect our basic humanity. Experience
seems to confirm that we are trapped in a morally indifferent Universe,
where the profit motive, rather than ethical values, drives our economic,
political and social institutions. Sadly, nowhere is this more true
than in the healthcare industry. Once our friend Joann’s medical problems
forced her into this system she ceased being a person. She became
instead a service statistic, a billing unit, part of a revenue stream.
This is a harsh assessment, but Joann herself understood that her
life had undergone this re-evaluation. In fact Joann and I
talked about it, and struggled with its implications during the last
conversation we had together. And I will tell you that Joann wondered-
as you or I would if we were in the same situation- where God was
to be found amidst the seeming moral indifference of the various institutions
where she spent so much of her last few weeks. Like Job, Joann was
questioning God, saying: “I cry to you, and you give me no answer;
I stand before you, but you take no notice.” Dostoyevsky wrote that the suffering
of children was the greatest proof against the existence of God. Surely
the suffering that our elderly endure at the hands of a profit-driven
healthcare system cannot be much less evil. But in the face of this
evil, and with the reality of death laying hard against our shoulders,
where can we find evidence of God? The answer is simple really: If
God exists, then His presence will be manifest in the lives of people
like Joann Bosley. Here is what I saw: Joann Bosley
was a crusader for justice. Despite all the troubles of her life and
even in the midst of her final suffering, Joann retained the capacity
to look beyond herself to see the needs of others. Despite her own
spiritual struggles, Joann could still look at those around her and
recognize the face of God. Let me explain. Whenever Joann and I talked over
the last few weeks she always returned to an idea she first mentioned
during one of her hospital stays. She’d say, “Ken, you and I are going
to write a book exposing what passes for an elder healthcare system
in this country, because I am not going to remain silent about the
things I’ve seen and experienced as a patient.” No, it wasn’t about
vengeance for Joann. What she had set her face upon was obtaining
justice for sick, frail, vulnerable people. Had she lived I think
Joann’s voice would have been heard, loud and clear. Despite all her
trials, Joann knew that she was speaking with God’s voice. For you
see, it is in the just acts of people like you and me and Joann that
the Word of God is made flesh. I stand here now thinking about
some words of St. Paul and how well they apply to Joann Bosley: “All
there is to come for me now is the crown of justice that the Lord,
the just judge, will give me on that day.” I hope you are enjoying
that crown Joann; you more than earned it, for yours was a just life.
And I will write that book for you- perhaps not exactly as you envisioned
it- for I see from different eyes. But I will do my best to honor
your spirit, for without justice, there is no God. IN MEMORIAMJO ANN BOSLEY
AUGUST
23RD 1919- MARCH
2ND 2001 |
THIS CARD WAS FOUND AT JO ANN”S HOME AFTER HER TRANSITION Dear Soul Mates, It is with a very humbled heart
that I try to express how much I thank you, love you, and understand
how much I have “tried” that love you have so freely given me. No one
else in my entire life has been so generous with their time, money and
patience as you have with me. I have wondered occasionally, when lucid
enough, just why I was still around- and my only conclusion is that
Spirit has still got some lessons for me to learn or that there is still
some way I can show all of you what blessings you are in this world
that is struggling so hard to find a way to live in peace and harmony.
I finally believe God loves me. (Maybe this will help me be less croc
tidy) Jo Ann |
SERVICES EVERY
SUNDAY AT 11:00
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