Jean Long's Message: There Is Too Much At Stake
Below is an email sent to me on Christmas Eve 2018 from my dear colleague Jean Long who just passed away this week. Jean was the anchor of the OE/EI/ICA Archives Project in Chicago and a person of great passion for transformation. When we were both in the Order and the ICA, I did not have occasion to work with her, but in the past two years I discovered her depth and greatness when she invited me to present my book at the Archives Sojourn in November 2017. Thank you, Jean, for your beautiful life lived for others. I and many others love you and miss you. Because of who she was my guess is that she sent kind and gracious letters to many people like the one below.
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Dear Rob -
How can it be two months since we last talked? The physical demands the Sojourn puts on this almost 80 year old body triggered hip and back pain that lets up only frequently. I am in a recovery program but each day is a surprise to open.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that allowed us to share such a profound colleagueship. At this stage of my life (wise elder) 😊 I will not be looking back on these years ever saying, "I should have done more", There is too much at stake these days.
The fruit of the globally influential life you have lived - The Compassionate Civilization - the fruit of the enlightenment that RS-1 was for so many and the living outedness of the Word that each of us pursued - empowers my life as I want to panic that the wisdom made manifest will be lost to those who care now and in the future.
I will be sending out a report on the work on the Archives website that we did in October. We are so far from the clarity of the why and the use of our methods, but the contexts will be worked on. There are a lot of documents that are now available for clicking. A lot of work still to do but we have made practical break throughs.
As I re-read your book (part of my Christmas reflection) and also Brian Stanfield's Courage to Lead - and the on line studies our Canadian colleagues are offering to share the wisdom - I am so grateful that the Word in action has been made available to those who are searching for it.
Thank you for the life you have lived and for the lives to which you have offered the Call.
May the Grace and Peace that passes the understanding of this world continue to sustain you and your family.
Jean
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Photo is of Jean in India holding Shraddha, the granddaughter of Mangla and Hiraman Gavai.