Adam's Party -- June 10

Everyone, as you may have heard, Adam (and his family) are fighting mighty hard right now and they really, really need our prayers and support.

On Saturday, June 10, we plan on getting together in Jackson to celebrate Adam's birthday, and his friendship to all of us. And Adam is REALLY counting on everyone being there.

I have no idea what shape he'll be in on Saturday...considering the amount of pain and medication he's having to endure (you can tell from the photo the med's are working on him pretty good). But it is so critically important that everyone take the time to come by and be a part of this. It is an opportunity for us to support him and his family and let them all know how much we love them and share their joy and their pain.

Date: June 10th, 2006
Time: 3 till
Location: Canterbury Club House in Ridgeland (someone get me an address on the place, please)

There are a few times in your life when you absolutely need to be some place for a special purpose...this is one of those times.

Please don't miss it.

See you there,
jmw

Trowbridge Update from Guy Parker, Sr.

June 5, 2006

Adam spent last week in Birmingham primarily to be with his children. Pain continued to become increasingly unmanageable, and last night Joyce took him to St. Vincent's Hospital where he was admitted. Although it is suspected he has pneumonia as an additional complication, the tumor(s) have grown too large and are blocking the x-ray images.

Just contacted Tad who states that Adam is finally sleeping after two sleepless nights. (That means 2 sleepless nights for Joyce as well). They have finally gotten enough medication into him to arrest the pain . . .for now. Tad says there are no more details because it is uncertain what the next step may be. . .

On this Pentecost Sunday there is much on which to reflect. Here are some thoughts from Henri Nouwen:

We will all die one day. That is one of the things we can be sure about. But will we die well? That is less certain. Dying well means dying for others, making our lives fruitful for those we leave behind. The big question, therefore, is not "What can I do in the years I have left to live?" but "How can I prepare myself for my death so that my life can continue to bear fruit in the generations that will follow me?"

Jesus died well because through dying he sent his Spirit of Love to his friends, who with that Holy Spirit could live better lives. Can we also send the Spirit of Love to our friends when we leave them? Or are we too worried about what we can still do?

Dying can become our greatest gift if we prepare ourselves to die well..........

Hope and faith will both come to an end when we die. But love will remain. Love is eternal. Love comes from God and returns to God. When we die, we will lose everything that life gave us except love. The love with which we lived our lives is the life of God within us. It is the divine, indestructible core of our being. This love not only will remain but will also bear fruit from generation to generation. When we approach death let us say to those we leave behind, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. The love of God that dwells in my heart will come to you and offer you consolation and comfort"............

When we speak about the Holy Spirit, we speak about the breath of God breathing in us. The Greek word for "spirit' is pneuma, which means "breath." We are seldom aware of our breathing (when we are well). It is so essential for life that we only think about it when something is wrong with it. The Spirit of God is like our breath. God's spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a "spiritual life." It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit who offers us the life death cannot destroy. Let us then always pray, "Come, Holy Spirit, come."

Guy Parker, CLU, CLTC
Mary Lynn Parker MA, MS, LMSW
Providing long-term care planning . . .for the family
Group Health Specialists, Inc
Office-(601)362-3137 or cell-(601) 940-2017