The Last of My Three Js Leaves Liberty By Ed Chasteen
Every hello is also a goodbye. The joy of meeting is prelude to the sorrow of parting. All true stories end in death. These thoughts come unbidden to mind as I read Graham’s email on my computer screen early this morning. On this first official day of winter, snow covers the ground outside my window. I will go later this cold morning to ring bells for the Salvation Army. It’s not on the route I would have taken, but today I will drive past First Presbyterian Church and think back to that fall day in 1965 when I went there to meet Reverend Julian Houston, pastor of the church.
The Civil Rights Movement had seized our national attention. Julian had called us to his church so we could lay plans to ensure fair housing for all our people. We were to meet often over the next few months, inspired by Julian’s passion for justice and dignity. I was new in town, having just arrived with my new PhD to teach race relations at William Jewell College. I had met a few folks at the college. But Julian was to be the first townsperson I would know. I could not imagine that day in 1965 how central to my life Julian Houston was to become. I was never to be a member of his church. We seldom saw each other except when danger arose in our town and response was needed. Then without fail word would come that Julian wanted us to come and do something.
Of the many good people who always answered Julian’s call, two others became beacons in my emerging understanding of how I should live and conduct myself. Joe Wally and John Pritchard became, with Julian, my three Js. Because I knew them, I could not act on my original plan to live and work in Liberty for only a year or two before going home to Texas.
So now on this 21st day of December 2005, I come to my computer and see scrolled across the screen a message I’ve been expecting and dreading. Joe died a few years back. John died just four months ago. Julian has not been well. This morning comes this.
“Ed, while I would much prefer to be sharing this news with you by phone I did not want to wait for an appropriate time to call you. Somehow I sense you are at your keyboard or soon will be.
“Dad passed away last night about 10:50 p.m. at Ashton Court. Mary Jane, Kate, Henry, Kathy, Jennifer and Jason were able to be with him before he died. Kate arrived around 5:45 and Henry about 8:45 p.m. I was fortunate to be with him all day. Though he was not able to speak much at all Dad and I connected on many levels and shared our sense of peace, comfort and readiness for what we knew was to come. God was with us all day and to the end. The three J's are united once again. What fun they must be having right now.
“Dad wanted his body donated to KU Medical Center. After he is done educating medical and allied health students (only Dad would figure out a way to keep teaching after his death!) his ashes will be returned to us in about a year.
“A memorial service will be held the middle of next week, probably Wednesday at Linwood United Church.”
God Bless You,
Graham
This was my email reply to Graham.
Graham, I am at my keyboard. I'm so fortunate to have met your dad when I first came to town. He has been important to me for all these years. He made me a better person. I will be forever grateful to him. One day I will go where he and Joe and John have gone. I wonder what it will be like. With them there, it's a place I want to be. And then there will be no goodbyes. Forever together! And it all started right here in our town where our hearts were set at Liberty.
HateBusters
Box 442
Liberty, MO 64069
Phone: 816-803-8371
e-mail: hatebuster@aol.com
No Boundaries On Our Soul!
