Celebrating and Planting

Centering

Great giver of life, we gather today acknowledging your presence with us.

You have unfolded before us in the bright, blue sky

Reminding us that your reach is far beyond what we can comprehend.

You have given a slight breeze, inviting us to settle into your ever-blowing presence,

Reminding us of the depth and breadth of those who have gone before us.

Those who walk alongside us.

The Companion that fills our lungs when we are unable to breathe.

You have risen from the ground in the form of bright green grass

Reminding us of the gentle whisper of growth, even as death presses down upon our beings. 

You are spread among the roots of the trees

Reminding us that as the seasons change, 

Your strength gives us balance,

 stability and a firm foundation, 

preventing our souls from being swept away in the unpredictability of life. 

Creator, all things seen and unseen

we acknowledge your presence with us today.

Provide a balm for our weary souls.

Be the seed that plants wholeness for our minds.

Grow a love that blossoms where our grief is planted.

Re-Membering

An ancient practice of re-membering, the deliberate act of re-collecting the ones to whom our own stories are formed, rise from, and who have held influence in creating our life’s story.  This community is gathered today as a re-membering, a collective of the memories of who Gary was, what Gary added to our world, and the passions with which he shared and grew within each of us.  Our community today is a divine community filled with unique stories and moments of distinctive experiences, and we seek to honor each memory, each story, and each lived experience with Gary.    The forming of this community is a testimony to the laughter, generosity, and love shared throughout the years.  Today we seek to re-member, call forth our stories, our memories, and our influence Gary had on our lives.  This practice of re-membering joins us together in the sharing of this divine act of love.   

Let us come in our re-membering of Gary’s life into our own. 

We remember….

The ways in which your mind flowed in an artful praise of designing and building

Finding unconventional solutions to every problem

Imagining and believing in the unthinkable

Having a plethora of projects in the works at all times.

Turning clucky blocks of wood into breathtaking works of art.

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember your favorite foods

Fried Liver and Onions

Center Point Thick Cut Fries

Hamburgers with no cheese

Chocolate cakes with marshmallow icing

 Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember the ways in which you fed us

Year-round grilling with Dale’s steak sauce 

Cast-iron skillet cooking

Mashed Potatoes to oven-fried potatoes

Sticks of butter in all things

Handcrafted bench at the kitchen table to offer a full welcome and affirmation for all who gathered.

 

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember your love of the outdoors

From  Pop-Up campers to 5th wheels

From State Parks to National Parks

From squelching heat to cloudy, rainy days

From fishing to walking on trails

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember the unexpected, life-giving adventures

Rides down the Natchez Trace

Long walks in the woods on the Appalachian Trail

Snow-filled hikes up Avalanche Peak

Stunning views that encompassed the soul at the Grand Tetons

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember your afternoon and late-night sweet treats

Sonic Happy Hour drinks made into adult beverages

Krispy Kreme runs when the hot sign is lit

Margaritas in mason jars with frozen mangos to add a bit of jazz

Back porch Bourbon on lazy Sundays

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember your teachings and the importance of seeing one another

Helping the stranded driver on the side of the road

Sharing with those who are hungry when your bounty is plentiful

Lending and giving wisdom when asked, but not expecting anything in return

Making the one standing before you feel as though they are the one who matters most.

Together we proclaim

We Remember

We remember  a love that ran deep

Listening and being present for long drives home

Birthday cards that were as heartfelt and given with your true character in mind

Days spent standing side by side, sharing recipes of old

Loud, obnoxious laughter that filled the room, even to our embarrassment

And bear hugs that embraced

Together we proclaim

We Remember

For

Gary Dale

Dad

Old Man

Daddy

Friend

Uncle

P-Pop

Ugly Old Fatman

Together we proclaim

We Remember.

Letting Go and planting something new

Ashes to Ashes

The words….the sentiment….the mark across our foreheads

Leave us standing in the darkness

Pulls us into the grit of  uncertainty

Acknowledges the grief that swells within.

Your ashes have left us grieving.

empty

wandering in silence.

standing in the shadows.

And yet, here in the shadows 

of these trees, 

we find new life.

A life that rises from the soil

A soil that nourishes in ways that we cannot see

A soil that births something new out of devastation

A soil that reveals beauty in the movements of the season.

Here in the shadows, 

we find a sliver of light reigning through.

We find the strength of your character held among the black walnut, elm, ash, and poplar trees 

We feel you envelop us through the thick, rich foliage that spreads across the ground.

We hear your song of praise as the birds call to one another

We experience the love that has gently cradled us through the swaying of the leaves

We stand not in the ashes of your leaving but in the soil of your planting.

The soil that enriched our lives at every turn.

The soil that embraced us even when we were out of balance. 

The soil that extended beauty into our lives on the cloudiest of days.

Dad,

Find your peace here in the sunlit path and gentle breeze

Find company in those surrounding you in this place

Find light in the movement of the sun.

Find the creativity and fulfilment of your dreams that lie deep within the trees

Find your new beginning here within the soil.

Today, we plant ourselves in the soil of your love and leave forever transformed by the seasons we shared.