Jay’s Life and Faith Journey….and Mine
Featured Speaker:
H. Rud Turnbull
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theologyanddisability
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Featured Speaker:
H. Rud Turnbull
TheologyAndDisability 
Christine G 9:26 pm on July 18, 2012 Permalink |
My inadequate knowledge of how to use my new iPad means that the notes I took from the discussion section vanished. Sorry I have nothing to post.
Bill Gaventa 3:54 pm on July 20, 2012 Permalink |
A few notes from Rud Turnbull’s wonderful presentation. To read a lot of the poetry he read from his book, look up The Exceptional Life of Jay Turnbull on Amazaon.
Rud Turnbull
Access, inclusion, community, friendship, faith, wholeness, anger, telos, death, self description, topsy turvy.
Jay: a bit of history, delightful when happey, terror when angry.
Corporation: full unadulterated citizenship for young people opposed to employment. We lived in a home where there was domestic violence. How to create an enviable life?
1987-1988 In DC, Jay at Walt Whitman High School in D.C. Teacher, went to coach, “You need a manager?” Manager handed out towels. Gets letter, gets up on the platform. Three moms, one of our sons will give Jay his letter jacket.
Lawrence: Musician therapist. The J-T shuffle. Who led that dance? The least among them.
Story “Don’t touch your penis in public.” Jay has such good manners.
Greatest social security program is networks of friends. One day, he did not get the right bus. “Jay was not lost, he was misplaced. “
I never spoke the Lord’s Prayer because I wanted to hear Jay say it.
He did not know the value of money, but he knew everything about giving.
January 7, 2009: poem about death. “Breathing in his death as we breathed in his life”
Being whole: Being whole means accepting all parts of one’s life, strengths and imperfections.
Ability to be, not to do: Jay’s gifts, to be, let me be, all the songs were about the largeness of spirit and gift of self.
Death as gift to me? Merciful to him, but why do I feel so conflicted.
The Best Professor: Ann and I were the instruments of his life. He was our best professor, but never gave us this final examination. He was in ways our creator, teach us, and cause us to teach. Follow me, and you and I will find life together, an enviable life.
The Origins of Peace: Peace comes to me from multiple sources. Does it come with resignation. But his death is still objectionable. Time now to celebrate Jay’s life, let the learning begin. Hard work, slow to mature.
Death dismembers: Not of semen alone. A disemboweling, taking away a vital organ.
Evidence of heaven: If heaven transforms Jay, is that what he wants, or what we want. Joyful presence, light not dark, Heaven is what we wish for our departed, what we want for ourselves.
Grandpa in heaven smoking a pipe with baby Jesus.
The losses of loved ones brings my faith.
Power of faith…faith sustains, makes bearable the otherwise unbearable.