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Features | Devotionals/Meditations | About LQ Memories, Tributes and Dirty Fingernails (con't) What I think I have learned most from Dwight's life is the poetry of life is in the writing not in the completion. Peace, After reading these responses over the past day or two, what I've suspected of Dwight all along has been confirmed: Dwight loved us all. Okay, that sounds simple, but there are a dang lot of us on this list! I often marvel that God has the capablilty to love and know every single human being. I think Dwight got a big does of whatever mystery that is, that makes loving that many people possible. Here's what I've learned from Dwight, in the best summary I can come up with: 1) I had Dwight sign my "gag" surgical mask when he & Sheri visited the Nashville crowd in early October: As the great Canadian Philosophers Bachman-Turner say, "Any lovin' is good lovin'" love, Dwight 2) This is something Dwight added to a Christmas e-mail a few years back, and I've stolen the idea from him and now add this to my cards each year: A Toast To a radically, perpetually unnecessary world; Robert Farrar Capon "The Supper of the Lamb" I miss you already, Dwight. Pax & Bonum and big bear hugs. Michele Pettis What did I learn from Dwight? In my experiences with Dwight, he proclaimed an updated version of what Billy Sunday preached back in the 20’s: "God must have a sense of humour – he created parrots, monkeys – and some of you people..." I first met Dwight when he was a youngster, in the early 70’s. Dwight’s parents, Jack & Dorothy, were pastoring in the small town of Fort Erie, Ontario, where I had grown up. I had just come back east from the West coast. I probably freaked out a few people in the church because some had no grid for where I was coming from: I had come to faith in Christ in the Jesus people movement, after living on a Buddhist commune in Northern Ontario, hanging out with Communists, marching against the Vietnam war in San Francisco, traveling around Mexico and California, etc. with all that was happening in those days. But Jack & Dorothy and Susan and Dwight (and the church), accepted me and loved me as I was, even though I’m sure I must have been a pain quite a number of times. Pastor Jack assigned me to Terry, a man who came to faith in Christ one Father’s Day (and who passed away from cancer just last year). Terry had been dishonourably discharged from the army and had a penchant for doing things like getting into trouble in the revolving tower overlooking Niagara Falls for singing “Mr. Bojangles,” while dancing on the revolving restaurant’s table tops. Terry and I became best friends – though we were probably the “odd couple” in the church, yet wonderfully accepted by the Ozard family. Terry and I didn’t quite know at times how to adapt to Christian protocol, yet the Ozards modeled Jesus for us. It seems like Dwight also would struggle one day with protocol in his quest to know what it meant for him to follow Jesus... I eventually went off to Bible College. For my third year internship in 1978, I was invited to go to where the Ozards were now pastoring, in Essex, Ontario, not far from Detroit, Michigan. It was like a family reunion to be back with the Ozards – I was like the wild grape grafted into the vine and Dwight was my little brother. Dwight and I occasionally had great fun messing around between the various church activities. He liked Love Song and Larry Norman, music from the Jesus People movement that I played for him. Dwight’s finest hour during my internship was one night at supper. He spontaneously burst into imitation of the gyrating black preachers from Detroit. He had those boys and their raspy voices down pat. Dwight’s mother was trying to maintain some decorum at the supper table but could not maintain her composure, until finally she exclaimed (unsuccessfully holding back her laughter), “Jack, would you do something with your son!” Of course, Jack was laughing so hard, he had no intention of disciplining him. We were all under the spell of Dwight’s good ole’ “black” magic! I have not seen Dwight since those days, but we were in touch via email from time to time during these last four years. He encouraged me in my work since it often touches those who have been traumatized from abusive pasts, those “who have not had a voice.” My wife and I have prayed regularly for Dwight during his battle. Isn’t it interesting how you feel you really know someone through prayer, and bond with them, even though you haven’t personally seen them for years? As I would pray, I could still see Dwight, the black preacher, making Jack and Dorothy and Susan and myself laugh to tears. Thank you, Dwight. Now, through our tears, you make us laugh again... Now you and Terry can sing Mr. Bojangles together, dancing on the Lord’s banqueting table. Now you can fully express your Detroit black preacher persona, without any pain. I think the Lord will be laughing - two white boys with rhythm - God’s rhythm... Mr. Bojangles ( Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ) http://users.cis.net/sammy/bojangle.htm I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you in worn out shoes With silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants, the old soft shoe He jumped so high, he jumped so high, Then he lightly touched down I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was - down and out He looked at me to be the eyes of age as he spoke right out He talked of life, he talked of life, he laughed, slapped his leg a step Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance! He said his name, Bojangles, then he danced a lick across the cell He grabbed his pants a better stance, oh, he jumped up high, Then he clicked his heels He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, Shook back his clothes all around Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance! He danced for throws at minstrel shows and county fairs Through out the south He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and him Had traveled about His dog up and died, he up and died, after twenty years he still grieves He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonks For drink and tips But most of the time I spend behind these county bars 'Cause I drinks a bit' He shook his head and as he shook his head I heard someone ask him `Please' Please .......... Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance! Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance! Blessings, Dwight taught me that all Christians don't have to agree, except when it comes to helping the poor. That it's OK, and encouraged, to question God. That when your world is falling apart, "God fills the void" That life's too short for cheap wine and mediocre food Life isn't life without good friends to love you through the crap You can say a letter is a "quick note" even if it's like 3 pages long And a creed that Dwight said in an email (which I shall now butcher)
The 3 things in life that matter: Dwight is one of my favorite people. He consistently challenged me and forced me to re-think my beliefs. I have to say, that I really truly understand what I believe about the world largely because of Dwight...because with him, it wasn't ok to just slide through life. I'm not sure when I met him, but I think I was still in college and was very content in my conservative midwest upbringing. Dwight helped throw all those notions out the window. About a year ago, we had a great series of emails going back and forth about politics and ethics, and Dwight just responded with "Ah, Lori. Can we burn this mother down?" This year, I have been going through a divorce, and somehow Dwight always seemed to think that my situation was more dire than his. He went out of his way to make sure that I knew that he and Sheri were concerned, and always had a place for me to crash in Philly. Remember how Dwight always ended his emails petitioning the AIDS victims/those without a voice in our neighborhoods? Well, I used to pray for Dwight when I walked around my neighborhood, so I prayed for those people too. I know there was someone in my neighborhood - right around 17th street in Huntington Beach - who i was praying for. I just don't know who. I mention this to Dwight one day, I think when we were celebrating his 40th birthday in Vegas, and he was obviously moved. I don't remember what he said, but I remember the look on his face, a look of total compassion. I can't really explain it, but it was probably my favorite moment with Dwight. I miss my friend. <<Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next>>
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