Terry Paul Choyce
May 28, 2008, Brunswick Street United Church
Almost every Sunday for the last three years Jim Wilson came up and lit our Christ candle. After lighting it he would stand a few extra seconds and say a silent prayer. I know that prayer was for his friends, and for the men who live on the streets of Halifax, and for people who are experiencing violence and injustice all over the world.
Jim loved people. He wanted to be everyone's friend and he wanted to help people however he could. Quite often he let men, like John, stay in his tiny studio apartment. He gave people food, and he gave them encouragement. But most of all, he made people smile. Jim was a character, with a wacky sense of humour. He had a playful nature and an innate joy of life.
Every Sunday morning I pick up 4 people for church, and Jim was one of them. At 9:20 he'd be standing outside his building in a suit, with his blond hair perfectly combed. While driving I talked to Jim about his week, and somewhere in the conversation he'd always say something like "I'm too handsome to get mad." When we'd pick up Walter there would be a volley of good natured insults and jokes. Elnora would sit between the two men. "The rose between two thorns" was often the way they referred to the seating arrangement. The first year Jimmy would regularly, playfully, ask Elnora to marry him, which she always had the good sense to refuse. Then we'd pick up Shazza, who Jim, for some unknown reason, called "Grandma." More funny banter for the few minutes to church. It was a great way to start a Sunday service, which here always includes much laughter.
Life was not easy for Jim. For the last few years had many health challenges, and he sure hated being in the hospital. When I first met Jim he was living off and on at Metro Turning Point, then in an awful room in a boarding house, and finally he got his little place on Cork St. Before coming to Halifax he spent many miserable years in the States, 14 of them in prison. But no amount of adversity could destroy Jimmy's spirit. He had an innate love of life and a boyish sense of humour that got him through difficulties that would have sunk most people into depression. Jim did sometimes get discouraged and angry, but he always came back with a smile.
There were lots of things that Jimmy loved. He said the people in this church were like his family, and coming here every Sunday was extremely important to him. We all respected and liked Jimmy. And his faith in God was one of the things that gave him the inner strength to handle all of his problems. He became a Christian while he was in prison in Arizona.
Jimmy LOVED dogs. He always had stories about the little dog that lived upstairs from him for two years, stories about John's dog Tina, and every dog that ever walked down the same street as Jim got petted and fussed over. Dogs love a person unconditionally, and Jimmy needed that, from animals and from people.
During the Sharing of Hearts and Minds I once asked what people do to feel centred and calm. Jim said he did jigsaw puzzles. He had boxes of them in his closet. He always had one in progress on his table. He like it when people came over and helped him figure out where each piece went. In a puzzle there is a perfect spot for every piece. Jim spent most of his life looking for his perfect spot. I know he found it in this church.
I chose two powerful and beautiful readings today, the Prayer of St. Francis Asissi and the Beatitudes from Matthew. Both contain lines that are very pertinent to Jimmy's life. St. Francis said " where there is despair in life, let me bring hope, where there is darkness only light; and where there's sadness ever joy." Jimmy had despair and he had hope. I think lighting the Christ candle each week brought necessary light into his life. And it took very little for Jimmy to feel joy, despite all of his health, financial and personal problems. Jimmy was resilient. Jimmy was usually a happy man.
Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Jim was always upset when violence happened and when people were treated cruelly or unfairly. "Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy." There were many times when Jimmy needed mercy, and gave mercy. " Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." I have no doubt that Jimmy is with God right now. And for us, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
I always follow a reflection with a piece of recorded music, and today I decided to play a song that I know Jimmy would love. I hope it brings a smile on your face too, like Jimmy often did. He was one "handsome" guy.
Song - "I Love that Dog" by Connie Kaldor
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Lighting Reading in Unison:
Consider a burning candle: its life is also its death;
death and life constantly interact.
Just as one cannot experience true joy without having suffered pain,
so life is impossible without death, for they are a single process.
Death is life in another form. (Philip Kapleau)
Congregational Prayer by George Odell
Dear God,
We need one another when we mourn and would be comforted.
We need one another when we are in trouble and afraid.
We need one another when we are in despair and need to be recalled
to our best selves again.
We need one another in the hour of defeat, when with encouragement
we might endure, and stand again.
We need one another when we would accomplish some great purpose
and cannot do it alone.
We need one another when we come to die,
And have gentle hands prepare us for the journey.
All our lives we are in need, and others are in need of us. Amen
©Terry Paul Choyce. Used with permission from the author.
