Gala Opening

New Life's Cloakroom Gallery opened last night

with an exhibition of Nancy's watercolors.

As I always, I had a few observations to share before the unveiling. I used Hunter's premise that creation flows out of the impulse to bring order to chaos. Nancy's gift for bringing some order to my chaotic self made her the most creative person I will ever know. But more than that, her five most prolific years came as she sorted through her painful childhood. She found a medium for that creative work after our friend Donna invited her to join her at a watercolor class in 1994. Her paintings often reflected the peace she experienced in the presence of the Lord who took her home three months ago.




We are grateful to Ed. He birthed the vision of providing a display area for Christian artists. He skillfully executed that vision. Lastly, a number of friends braved the cold windy Friday night weather to help us celebrate this visual reminder of Nancy's journey.

The exhibition will remain up until after the first of the year. Please feel free to stop by when you are in Glenside!

Continuing to Announce

A couple of weeks ago my friend Sandy reminded me that I am still in the announcement phase. That is, I am still connecting with folks in the wake of Nancy's death, having first conversations with them, even letting folks know. Also, I face ongoing reminders that ING, and the IRS still deal with me as Dan and Nancy. Their computers have yet to absorb the news that she is Home.

While calling some of WHM's financial partners Tuesday night, I had two bittersweet announcement conversations. First, with a former Ireland team mate, we shared joys and sorrows. I was able to tell her that the Dublin neighborhood we ministered to 1983 now has a church in the community center. Together we marveled at how God really had heard our prayers after all.

Next I talked to a couple with whom we have partnered for over 30 years. There were so many wonderful stories to swap. So many reminders of HIS love. They reminded me of a trip Nancy had taken to encourage them when they were serving in Europe. It was so good to recall the good things we had seen The Father do in and through us.

Those calls warmed my heart. But I found myself losing it on the way home. Once more I had announced the change to dear friends. Once more the wound was strangely reopened, even as His faithfulness to us was relived, once more the longing for HOME was re-enforced, once more gospel hope flowed into the sadness we all felt.

What a strange and turbulent ride I encounter through this valley of grief. I am glad I don't walk this valley alone.

A Sudden Sinking Feeling

I often grow impatient with the slow pace of the walk through this valley. I would love to clear this land of grief and sadness. Quickly and Permanently. Instead I find myself sometimes stuck, as if waddling in quick sand. With no warning.

Take tonight. Two good friends were bringing us dinner tonight and staying to eat with us. So, I was looking forward to having the house resonate with laughter and lively conversation again. Before they came I decided to look through the mail. Foolishly I decided to check the letter from Kay's Jewelers, wanting to make sure it was not a new credit card or something. Instead the letter contained coupons for the upcoming season's sales. And I was stuck again. Reliving the memories of the Journey Deepens necklace that I gave her at Christmas. I was angry at myself for inviting this emotion right before my friends arrived. I delivered a stern rebuke to ME for being so foolish. And pulled my boots out of the quicksand, to eat Mexican food and welcome Tanna the dog into Teddie's liar. Another day wading through hidden swamps of the valley of grief. Part of the journey. Part of paying the cost of love forward.

I was struck by Kathryn's comment about my health. "Our bodies often grieve the loss of someone we love." Very perceptive. The following link documents her intuition: http://www.medicinenet.com/guide.asp?s=ef&k=medicinenet.com&a=52318

Pay It Forward

I am still trying to find road signs to get through this long, dark valley. This week I signed up for daily emails from Griefshare.

Day One reminded me that: Grief is the cost of loving someone. Love always comes with a cost. The Father's love to us comes with the cost of HIS son. His grief darkened the heavens before it rolled back the stone.

So, it cost the Father a great deal to empower Nancy to love me. The price of that love is now"paid forward" through my gratitude to HIM for our years together and my willingness to move toward others in sorrow. Right now, I live a life absent of smiles, hugs and prayers with my best friend. But I pay that cost willingly these days. The love HE gave me through Nancy has left me a wealthy man.

Join us in Glenside on Nov 21

New Life Glenside is opening a small art gallery in our building this fall. We were honored to learn that Nancy will be the first artist to be displayed in the new Cloarkroom Gallery. Please join us at New Life; Jenkintown and Easton Road; Glenside at 7pm Friday Nov 21 for a another example of how the Nancy's life continues to spread out in ever expanding circles.

The Circle Widens

How little I understand the ways of the King. Last night several friends and I attended a function at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. We listened as Father Dennis Billy dedicated his newest book to Al Groves. In front of an audience made up mainly of Catholic clergy Farther Billy explained how Al had pointed him to Christ years ago at Dartmouth.

Two years after Al died Dennis was telling them that Al expemplified true spiritual friendship. Al's love for people, his gentle demeanor and his rigorous intellectual honesty continue to reach people in unique ways.

Each day is salted with the tears I shed as I miss my best friend. But Nancy's paintings are finding a wider audience these days. And the fresh wound I feel allows me to move toward young parents grieving the loss of their unborn child, or a student mourning the combat death of his big brother. The pain I carry pushes me to others in pain.

Tonight I picture Al and Nancy as two stones thrown into a clear lake. Even now their ripples still disturb the surface, spreading his love in ever widening circles.

Why does this surprise me? In the garden of the King, a seed must fall to the ground and die to produce a crop. The seeds germinated through Al and Nancy will continue to yield harvests for many seasons to come.

My Housemate

KJ has been my closest companion over the last three months. As housemates we have tried to help one another through shopping, cooking, cleaning and pet care responsibilities. But we share something deeper and more important. Together we experience grief, sharing, sorrow, and loneliness. It must be hard to share a silent empty house with a sad dad. But she continues to press on as she follows a unique path through this wide valley. Lift her up to Her Heavenly Dad who can remove the weight of sorrow from his kids' shoulders.

Three of KJ's bags made for sale at Elcy's coffee shop were snapped up by discriminating customers yesterday. Get one while they last!