Allen Jones

I had no idea how many people would attend Alan's Memorial Service. Sleepless at 3:45 A.M. this morning, I got up, had a beer and thought a little about Allen and me. It turned out, that there were so many Brothers and Sisters at the service, sharing and covering all his bases, I didn't want to intrude as just a utility player. But this is what I would have said.

Allen was one of the first people I got to know when we joined this Congregation. 

In my early immersion, I had found a seat in the men's group meeting in Starr King. Over time, attendance in that circle proved very erratic. But one thing Allen always did well was to show up. It came to pass that there were many meetings where it would be just the two of us. We had intense personal dialogues. Together, we discovered that we were two warriors in the same foxhole. He was the veteran, I was the raw recruit. Besides our deadly common enemy, we discovered many life experiences and regrets which we also had in common.

Allen still retained his lean athletic frame so it was far easier for me to picture him as a Wet Wednesday sailor and weekend soccer player than perhaps it was possible for him to see me in the same light. (Do you think?)

Allen always spoke with a smile, a soft voice and in run-on sentences. So I learned how to really listen. Allen taught me about my inner resources I was not aware of. Leading softly from behind, Allen encouraged me in a path which ultimately led me to affilate with the Mankind Project. That was Allen's Gift of Gold to me. 

Along the way he also taught me much about courage, optimism, love and living every day. Allen would tell me 'don't look back because you're not going that way.' 

And he would also instruct me to leave nothing on the table. He would often say, "Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal." 

 Well, there is obviously a lot that Allen Jones left for us. 

If he were here and speaking at this service, I imagine Allen would tell us to smile, breath and go slowly... Because for each of us, our time here is different, but when we get there, we will all get there at the same time.