The Act of Consecration for the Dead for Owen Lange

     Kara, Marilyn and Rosie at the Act of Consecration for the Dead

Owen Lange

April 5, 1946 to August 4, 2009

The Church was full last Saturday Dec.5th as we celebrated our memories of Owen. After the Service

and refreshments we formed ourselves into a large circle. Marilyn spoke about Owen's final days battling lymphoma and that he was lucid many times. At one point he told her that "they " had recorded all that he

had accomplished in his life and apparently he could see it as some kind of vast panorama. She spoke of

the "Three Mysteries" at the time of his death.

The first was felt by his son, Peter, at the moment he died. Peter was standing outside and felt a strong

wind blow in one direction. Then it was very calm and then the wind blew just as strongly in another

direction. Suddenly a door slammed very loudly. The next mystery was that the house lost power. When

BC Hydro arrived the next day to deal with it, Marilyn was told that such a thing can happen by "even a

door slamming hard"! The third mystery was that Marilyn started receiving the Victoria newspaper,

Times Colonist, soon after Owen's death. Apparently it was ordered  by Owen on August 5th, the day

after he died!

Philip Thatcher reported that many in the community were attending the Conference of the North in

early August and that at the time of Owen's death the light from the aurora borealis was particularly

strong for this time of the year. Usually the lights are seen in September and October (around the fall

equinox).

These stories of wind and strong light are not so unusual as we all knew of Owen's love for the weather.

For many years he worked as a meteorologist for Environment Canada and wrote 4 books on the weather

of the Georgian basin.

Fiona, Constance and Candace during the refreshment break

Guenther and Marianne (and Patricia)

Gloria finds time to help with cleaning up

Sisters

Rosie says, "This is the way it usually is between us!"

(Original content from e-mail by Susan Koppersmith)

I am the Way, the Truth, the Light

Standing in the eye
of the hurricane,
Beauty and peace
surround me.

Now that I have kept you all on tenterhooks, I will try to finish my story to date.

It turned out that at the time that I fell into depression and sought the Way, my husband had also fallen into depression. Instead of searching for the Light, however, he was lured into the shadows, deeper and deeper into the darkness. We know that what is hidden will be revealed, and what is done in secret, good or bad, the Light will shine upon. His activities were finally revealed, and he is now in such suffering as I would never have imagined or wished for him. I could never have made it through those first awful weeks without the unflagging support of Rev. Locey. In true repentance there can be salvation, and in redemption, there can be transformation.
But, the Truth will set you free, and I am free to set my own course, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever. The suffering of all the children, though, is the cross I must now take up.

The year after my first delegates' conference, I was able to attend the next one, down in California. This one was even more special, because it allowed us to meet most of the priests in North America. The people I had formed a connection with the previous year, were greeted like old friends. How is it that such a strong connection can be made in a couple of days? This is one of the miracles that happens when people of one spirit come together.

To hear of the beginning of the work of our church in North America, struck a chord with me, as my family was also descended from early pioneers. I knew of the sacrifices that were made: of giving up everything they had known or possessed, in order to start a new life for themselves and their children, sometimes even their very lives.

The best vision happened during the Sunday Service. In walked 4 silver-haired priests in vestments, who quietly sat down. I knew they had dedicated their entire lives to our movement, and some of the sacrifices they had made in their personal lives, and my heart swelled with pride. Then in walked our Lenker, the leader of our church in North America, to celebrate the Service. He is slightly younger, with the grey only starting to show, but already he has led our church for around 15 years, and he has 20 more years to go, God willing. I knew of some of the sacrifices he and his own family had made, and I also had a good sense of the task he had willingly taken on. It was truly awe-inspiring, and my heart was filled to overflowing with love and pride for all the men and women who had set such an unbelievable example of faith and dedication.

So what has been the overall purpose of my story? I hope there are other members of our church who have also been inspired in some way, and would like to tell their story. Even though we experience life as individuals, there are common threads. In telling our stories, we can see how these threads are woven together, stretching back into the past, the present and beyond into the future, creating a beautiful, intricate tapestry, describing the evolution of our Selves, and of humanity.

What message would I like to leave with you? You have Value, no matter what you can do, even if it is just washing dishes or sweeping the sidewalk. God needs You to be his hands and feet, or, as Rudolf Steiner said, "to be the self-conscious instrument of the deeds of the spirits."
We do not tell people what they must or must not believe, or do, or say. You are provided the space and freedom to come to know God in your own heart, and in your own way. You will be helped and guided in finding your own path.

So, GET INVOLVED! BE INSPIRED! WHY?

WHY NOT? Everyone is born into this life with a purpose, and with limitless possibilities.

BE the CAUSE! Be the change you wish to see in the world (Gandhi), and see you in church. :)

In memory of Owen Lange

A stiff ocean breeze
Blows through my soul,
Leaving the taste
of salt on my lips.

The clouds are swept away
By the beating of angels' wings,
And my eyes are dazzled
By the rising of the Sun.

A new day is dawning!