Impermanence

It's been a while since I've blogged as my good friend Steve has reminded me. My son Jacob also inquired recently as well and so with his permission I am going to publish a recent blog post of his that sums up my thoughts as I plan a memorial service for a parishioner that we will all miss around here very much. Thanks Jacob!

The past few weeks in my Religions of the World class, we've been studying Buddhism. One of the primary tenants of Buddhism is that everything is impermanent. Our bodies are in a constant state of life and death, our bodies eventually pass away, the grass and flowers fade with the seasons, snow melts, water boils and then re-condenses, even the mountains will be made low one day by forces of nature, and the valleys made into mountains by those same forces.

Everywhere around us, we have reminders of how impermanent this existence is.

I was reminded of this on Saturday, when I recieved word that Ann Stacy, a member of my home church and community, passed away from complications after quadruple bypass surgery. It is a difficult loss for all of us who knew her.

Mrs. Stacy was one of those people who never did anything out of spite. She always had the best intentions, no matter what the circumstance or issue was. When she decided to do something, she saw it through relentlessly until an idea became reality. She was outspoken, compassionate, and always thoughtful. She will be sorely missed.

I think that, when viewed through the eyes of the present moment, the philosophy of impermanence is flawed. It doesn't take into account the memories that we have. True, over time those memories will themselves fade, but in the here and now, Ann Stacy has permanence in my heart and mind, as she does with the many other lives that she touched.

Please keep the Stacy family in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the people of First Pres St. Marys, and the people of the community. This is a difficult time for all of us as we grieve.

May God Bless you and Keep You.

-Jacob

You may visit Jacob's blog site at www.tubaman0321.blogspot.com