In Memoriam

Dear Norm,

Thank you very much for all your help on the Special Events Team.  Your tireless work has helped raise much needed funds for the church year after year.  I particularly appreciate your support of our efforts to offer online ticket sales for our events through Eventbrite.  And although I'm a relative newcomer to the team, you make me feel like a valued and welcome member.  Your energy and sense of humor keep our meetings pleasurable as well as productive.  Thank you so much.  

Well, that's what I would've written, but time ran out.

Saturday was Norm's memorial service. I left feeling so sad.  I listened to the stories from his children and his dear friends.  I came to understand that I'd been in the presence of a great man and never known it.

I wasn't sad for Norm or for those who mourned him.  He lived his life well, worked hard, listened closely, loved deeply, believed firmly.  They were blessed to share their lives with him these many years, know his kindness, wisdom, generosity of spirit.   Wherefore should they be sad?  I was acquainted with Norm.  We met in committee.  I never really had a conversation with him.  I missed an opportunity.  I was sad for me, because Norm might've been a friend to me [he would have made room for another friend in his life].  And I would have been a better person for knowing him.

Then the thin, perfunctory thank you note above would have said more and meant more.  It would have been worthy of the man.

Dear Norm, Thank you for everything.  

I can't go back and spend more time and listen more closely to Norm.  But I can take this lesson with me:  Spend more time and listen more closely from now on.  

Dear God, Thank you for Norman Wendler, whom I didn't know, and for all the great people I will know.