This can be a thread for any loss among us and, I think, the friend I'm thinking of today would like that, would like the notion of starting something new and resonant among us, something meaningful and true in a place he gave so much to, even as he leaves us for a time.
It begins, for me, with Thomas Ellis, the Psalmist.
To say he was my friend is insufficient, but to say anything without saying everything would feel that way. For nearly nine years he was a constant touchstone for me, offering a joke, insights into life and evidence of a life well spent in the service of our faith, notes and notices about my Jack and hopeful, affirmative counsel...and when he thought I could take it without changing hats, a gentle nod, a nudge of praise and confidence that never failed to move me and raise my spirits. I remember one day he asked to quote me and use it in his larger life and I was impossible for the rest of the week.
Most of us who have been around this neighborhood for long have our stories and know the obvious. His birthday thread attention was legendary as was his Praise the Lord, in its three incarnations. But for me Psalmist, Thomas begins and ends with a thought of kindness and humor tied into a passion for Christ that so obviously transformed him that any time I spent around him here or elsewhere left me stronger for it. I'll miss sharing an appreciation of old cars with him, of hearing his "Lawyer Daggett!" and whatever followed...he was funny when he wanted to be and always appreciated humor that wasn't steeped in venom.
We shared baseball and racing stories, talked about old movies and song, thought aloud about the bits and pieces of our lives. I'm happy now to find a great deal of conversation in my profile to go back through. I hope some of you are doing the same in yours. We passed a good bit of time laughing together about things. Especially early on, before he was here less and less and life took up more and more of my time. I was lucky to have any part of that life and I know it, feel it more keenly in its passing.
I will miss him.
It begins, for me, with Thomas Ellis, the Psalmist.
To say he was my friend is insufficient, but to say anything without saying everything would feel that way. For nearly nine years he was a constant touchstone for me, offering a joke, insights into life and evidence of a life well spent in the service of our faith, notes and notices about my Jack and hopeful, affirmative counsel...and when he thought I could take it without changing hats, a gentle nod, a nudge of praise and confidence that never failed to move me and raise my spirits. I remember one day he asked to quote me and use it in his larger life and I was impossible for the rest of the week.
Most of us who have been around this neighborhood for long have our stories and know the obvious. His birthday thread attention was legendary as was his Praise the Lord, in its three incarnations. But for me Psalmist, Thomas begins and ends with a thought of kindness and humor tied into a passion for Christ that so obviously transformed him that any time I spent around him here or elsewhere left me stronger for it. I'll miss sharing an appreciation of old cars with him, of hearing his "Lawyer Daggett!" and whatever followed...he was funny when he wanted to be and always appreciated humor that wasn't steeped in venom.
We shared baseball and racing stories, talked about old movies and song, thought aloud about the bits and pieces of our lives. I'm happy now to find a great deal of conversation in my profile to go back through. I hope some of you are doing the same in yours. We passed a good bit of time laughing together about things. Especially early on, before he was here less and less and life took up more and more of my time. I was lucky to have any part of that life and I know it, feel it more keenly in its passing.
I will miss him.
