A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF MAURICE JORDAN<o:p></o:p>

MATTHEW 28, VERSES 19 AND 20 STATE THE FOLLOWING:<o:p></o:p>

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:<o:p></o:p>

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.<o:p></o:p>

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS: ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS REST ON LOVING GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THE REST, I HAVE HEARD, IS COMMENTARY.THESE VERSES ARE ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE GREAT COMMISSION.<o:p></o:p>

MAURICE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT IN THE LIFE THAT SHE LIVED THROUGH HER LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS. AND WHEN SHE LAST VISITED US, SHE EXPRESSED THAT SHE APPRECIATED THE GRATIOUSNESS THAT OUR CHURCH MEMBERS DEMONSTRATED TO HER. AS ONE WHO LIVED OVER THE SPAN OF TWO CENTURIES, SHE WITNESSED THIS NATION GO THROUGH MANDATORY SEGREGATION TO ELECTING THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. SHE WITNESSED PROGRESS FROM THE MODEL T CAR TO THE ROUTINE MOVEMENTS OF PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND NATIONALITIES AS THEY TOO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY AND ROUTINELY THROUGH SPACE. SHE RAISED HER OWN FAMILY AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE REARING OF OTHERS WHETHER THEY WERE BLOOD RELATIVES OR NOT.<o:p></o:p>

IN TIMES LIKE THESE, WE CANNOT HELP BUT REMEMBER OTHERS WHO INFLUENCED OUR LIVES DIRECTLY BUT HAVE GONE ON TO THEIR HEAVENLY REWARD. I HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY FASCINATED BY SOME OF THE VOCABULARY THAT I WAS PRIVELEDGED TO LEARN UNDER THE TUTELEDGE OF THE ADULTS FROM HER TIME. WORDS SUCH AS HYBOLIC ACTIONS, GINY GAUL, YOU DO NOT KNOW A FIFTH OF THE STORY, I AM GOING TO TELL YOU UP FRONT…YOU KNOW THE REST, BUM-FUMBLING, THE HERONS (ACTUALLY THE HEROINES) OF JERICHO WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A NEW BIRD SPECIES WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF IT AND MY ALL TIME FAVORITE, LA ROW CATCH MEADOW…PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME HOW TO SPELL THIS PHRASE AS THE BEST THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO WRITE IT PHONETICALLLY. I HAVE YET TO CONFIRM ITS MEANING AND A COMPUTER LANGUAGE SEARCH HAS NOT YIELDED ANY RESULTS IN ANY KNOWN DIALECT!<o:p></o:p>

I OVERHEARD SOMEONE SAY AT AN OCCASION SUCH AS THIS THAT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S WORKS LED HIM TO BE IN THE POSITION THAT HE WAS IN. THAT REMARK IS ONLY PARTIALLY TRUE.  AS IT IS IN THIS CASE, THE ALTERNATE FACTS BEAR WITNESS TO ALL OF THE LIVES THAT MAURICE HAS TOUCHED OVER THE YEARS AND THE MEMORIES THAT WE CHERISH ABOUT HER. SOMETHING ABOUT LIFE COMPELS US TO DO THIS IN SPITE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR EVENTUAL DEMISE. THESE MEMORIES WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST IN OUR LIVES AND NO PRICE CAN BE PLACED ON THEIR VALUE.<o:p></o:p>

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WE ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THESE MEMORIES, THIS MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I RECALLED THAT THOUGH UPSET AT MY OWN PARENTS’ PASSING, I FELT AS THOUGH GOD INVITED ME NOT TO DWELL IN MY ANGER AT BEING UNABLE TO HELP THEM LIVE LONGER, BUT TO USE THOSE THINGS WHICH HE AND THEY GAVE ME TO HELP OTHERS WHEN I COULD. I INVITE YOU TO DO LIKEWISE AS I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT MAURICE WOULD HAVE WANTED!<o:p></o:p>

AT THE LAST OCCASION WHERE MAURICE WAS HONORED, I WAS PRIVELEGED TO REPEAT THE FOLLOWING WITH A SLIGHT ALTERATION:<o:p></o:p>

AGAPE-UNCONDITIONAL LOVE<o:p></o:p>

GOD KNEW THAT WE WOULD DO IT, WE WOULD DISAPPOINT HIM SO<o:p></o:p>

AND LATER IN THE COURSE OF TIME, CHRIST WOULD SHARE OUR WOE.<o:p></o:p>

HE WOULD DIE UPON A TREE MADE OF THE OLD DOGWOOD,<o:p></o:p>

A SOLDIER MOCKS AND PIERCES HIM AND A SAVAGE EARTHLY BROOD <o:p></o:p>

WOULD SAY HE WAS A DEMON, POSSESSED BY DEMI GODS<o:p></o:p>

YES HE KNEW THAT WE WOULD DO THIS, ATTRIBUTE LIFE TO ODDS<o:p></o:p>

THAT RANDOMLY PRODUCED US THROUGH BILLIONS OF YEARS<o:p></o:p>

AND DENY THIS MIRACULOUS APPEARANCE WITH TAUNTS AND BOOS AND JEERS.<o:p></o:p>

YET HE MADE US ANYWAY, IN HIS OWN IMAGE BLESSED<o:p></o:p>

ALL COLORS OF THE RAINBOW, ALL PEOPLES EAST AND WEST.<o:p></o:p>

MOST OF ALL HE GAVE US THE ABILITY AND COURAGE TO LOVE- <o:p></o:p>

TO HELP OUT ONE ANOTHER, A BLESSING FROM ABOVE. AMEN.  <o:p></o:p>

1ST CORINTHIANS 12:11-11 BUT ALL THESE WORKETH THAT ONE AND THE SELFSAME SPIRIT, DIVIDING TO EVERY MAN SEVERALLY AS HE WILL.<o:p></o:p>