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FOR
TOM HARPER - TERMINALS
In the triumphant apocalypse of the New Testament
God proclaims from a lofty throne,
"Behold, I am making all things new."
And so God does. Death is the supreme demonstration.
It is a terminus, and as with all terminals of life
there is an end ... and a new beginning.
It is through life's terminals that we can comprehend death. Who
among us has not terminated one job to begin another? Terminated
one relationship to begin another.
Who among us has not begun again from an ending?
Death appears to be the most impertinent of terminals,
and perhaps it is,
for those who think of time chronologically.
But beginnings and ends are frameworks of value,
purpose and destiny, rather than chronological concepts.
Put another way, time is our choice of how to love,
whom to love, and why.
We who gather here have chosen to love Tom,
and there is a new beginning.
A new beginning for him, and a new beginning for us.
Tom's new beginning is freedom, nothing more to lose.
Our new beginnings are what we make of them.
Written by Louis L. Mitchell, for Tom Harper's funeral - 1986
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Tom was my wise,
wry, perceptive, imaginative, insightful, diplomatic and efficient
Assistant Director
when I directed musicals for The American Light Opera Company.
I can still see him: slim, neat, crisp dress shirt,
sleeves rolled up. Black-rimmed glasses
pushed atop his full head of black hair,
pencil and pad at the ready for taking notes,
sharp eye for details, quizzical expression.
He was a handsome talented man who died much too young.
May he rest in blessed happy peace.
DBM
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