Happy Birthday, Speed!
George Parsons
(Friend and Colleague)
The Way It Is
By William Stafford
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
Things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it, you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
Or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you can do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
Speed, you taught me more about living a calling than anyone I know. I remember thinking you were holding on to a strange thread, especially watching you work with people in conflict.
You gave the world a concept – levels of conflict – and encouraged us to help groups move down from a level 5 or 4 to a level 1 or 2. Yet when I watched you in more severe conflict settings, you seemed to be more alive when the people you were helping were at a level 4 (contemplating felonies toward one another). You were really on and alive at these times. I may be mistaken but on one such occasion I thought you actually might be drooling. But, as I said, I probably am mistaken.
I am grateful for your many gifts to me: your extensive teaching, support, vulnerability, and your ability to see an arrival point for me in my need to embrace conflict management and were there to welcome me eventually. I am deeply grateful for the gifts you have given the church and the world beyond.
So take this day to contemplate all of the gifts that you have been given and keep holding on to that thread. Happy Birthday, dear friend.
Love,
George