Deacon Mike bids farewell

Dear People of Mother Teresa,

People come and go all throughout our lives. Each person becomes an opportunity for God to file and buff away the rough edges of everyone’s self-centeredness, so we must always be open to the people God places before us. It saddens me to tell you that I will be gone again from you.

This time, for at least two years, I will be living in Heber Springs, Arkansas, about two hours north of Little Rock. I came here for the funeral of my sister Martinee. Another sister, Karen, asked me to help her here. She had taken a job assignment in Virginia and would be gone for two years and then return to Arkansas to retire. She asked if Eve, my German Shepherd, and I would for her home in her absence.

Many of you know I’ve just returned after the death of my Nancy in December. I had been away from you for over four years as I retired to care for her in our struggle with Alzheimer's. I’ve never forgotten that you people of MTCC never failed to check on us and ask if we needed anything. It was comforting to know that we were never forgotten in our time of suffering and growth. You lived, for us, a great example of faith and love as a community.

I’ve never had many possessions, but God has truly blessed me with the riches of faith, family, and all the faith families I’ve been a part of all my life. After Nancy passed to eternal life, I found earthly life more economically challenging. This required me to seriously evaluate how to live in our area as all things seem to be increasing in cost. Having Eve with me, of course, makes it more challenging to find a place to live reasonably without being overly anxious in spirit.

Martinee’s funeral brought all eight of us together for the first time since my ordination by Bishop Gossman on Nov. 12, 2004. Like all families, some of us were estranged because of petty words, perceived offenses, distance, or just the busyness of each of our individual work and family lives.

In our gathering for Mart’s funeral, God worked a miracle and allowed us all to see how vital forgiveness is to family life. We all took this lesson to heart. We all understood again that life is too short for unforgiveness and resentment. We learned again, St. Paul’s words from Ephesians, “to not let the sun set on your anger.” Unforgiveness destroys like any terminal disease.

Eve and I will be here, Lord willing, for at least two years. We will return whenever we visit my daughters, who reside in Cary and Rougemont, with three of my grandchildren. After “I love you” and “I forgive you,” the most important words we say are “Hello” and “Goodbye." It is time for me to say “Goodbye” to you, and I’m truly sorry that I cannot say it face to face.

All I can say is keep God and love foremost in your hearts, minds, souls, and spirits. Only love, which is God, opens all the possibilities to be fully alive. As Mother Teresa said, “Do whatever God puts in front of you” and do that which most leads you to love. Thanks for being you. Peace be with you.