(no subject)

[violachic]

In grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox's body was found in Baghdad yesterday.

Saturday marked one year since the death of Tom Fox.

I wanted to post something- a memorial, some kind of tribute to who he was and what he believed and valued. But it was difficult to find the exact words, and the right attitude.

You see, Tom was a simple man. All this putting of him on pedestals over the last year, its just not him. I almost feel as if I'd be doing his memory a disservice if I added to that. But I do truly feel that he needs remembering, both because he was a person- a father, a friend, a peacemaker- and because he represents what so very many people around the world hold so dear.

I honestly don't know exactly what to say. There is no pre-meditated plan to this post; I can not come up with the appropriate profundity or wit to articulate what I feel. Finding words feels forced, but finally sitting down at the keyboard brings relief, and a lifting of a burden off my chest. This post will neither try to change anyone's mind, nor will it preach to the choir. It will simply serve as a marker of the life and death of a man who may or may not change the world. An ordinary, simple man with an extraordinary spirit.

Although I describe him as a simple man, Tom had many gifts. He was fantastic company, with quiet but profound thoughts that he shared with a gleam of wit always in his eyes; he loved to cook, and created fantastic meals when you thought there was nothing in the cupboards; to say he loved music isn't entirely accurate- it was more that music was a part of him, and was always present.

He also wrote beautifully, and kept a blog that is still maintained. I offer you the link, and encourage you to go and poke around. I am sure you will find yourself drawn in, captivated by his beautiful beliefs and gifted writing. The title he chose, Waiting in the Light, sums him up perfectly.

The entries I made on LJ last year that I tagged for Tom Fox are also available here.


I was recently told that you don't know the value of a human life until you take one. I can not under any circumstances agree with that statement. Rather, I strongly believe that you don't fully know the value of human life until you are willing to lay yours down for another. Along with Rachel Corrie- the four-year anniversary of her death is on Friday as well- and Tom Hurndall, Tom Fox did just that. I will always grieve for them, remember them, thank them.

The only “something in my life” I can hold onto is to do what little I can to bring about the creation of the Peaceable Realm of God. It is my sense that such a realm will always have natural disasters. It is the “man-made” disasters that we are called upon to bring to and end.

- Tom Fox, August 30, 2005

Comments

[ironheadjane.livejournal.com]

Everyday I hear a promo for My Name is Rachel Corrie which is playing locally and I think of you.

That means I've been thinking of you a lot lately. Esp. since my anniversary is next month.

Much love.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

I really wish that would play in Chicago, I'd really love to see it. I heard that Alan Rickman was a big force behind it, at least in the UK, which makes him rise drastically up my List (not that he was too far down it to begin with....).

I think about you a lot, too, and miss you tons. I still owe you a wedding scrapbook, maybe I can get it done by your anniversary :-)

[whereisjoy.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's really hard to know what to say. Today I just find myself thankful that everyone else is safe.