Further Shock

I was sitting in Palm Beach International airport on Tuesday when I received the call from Scott Stensaas, member of UU Flint and former congregational Moderator. Auldin Nelson, long term member and leader and the architect of our 1961 classroom building and 1986 Sanctuary and Bell Tower, had been discovered dead that morning by his sister, who worried that he hadn't called her as he did each morning. Auldin had died of a heart attack the night before. What a shock.

Auldin had not been feeling well for a few days. He felt he had a virus and ought to take it easy, but his sister noticed that he was using his walker to get around Ikea on Saturday--something quite unusual. He didn't go to church on Sunday, wanting to rest up. And on Monday, he said that he was feeling under the weather but was not ready to see a doctor.

In talking with Auldin's wife Jean on Wednesday, I learned that their son is traveling in China with a production that he would have a hard time walking away from. So the family has decided to postpone a Memorial Service until the spring when everyone can be in Flint. In the meanwhile, there will be no viewing on the body or funeral service; friends are asked to make contributions to the Memorial Garden Fund at the church, a project conceived and designed by Auldin, and one very dear to his heart.

I'm thankful that we concluded our church's 75th anniversary year by paying tribute to Auldin on the 45th and 20th anniversaries of the construction of our buildings. In the spring of 2006, we thanked Auldin with a banquet with tributes. I was pleased then to speak with former ministers of UU Flint, to hear their accolades and to deliver them to the body gathered.

Last year, Auldin "retired" as the "supervisor of aesthetics" of our buildings and grounds. He shared with me his thoughts about our narthex; he showed drawings for a new wheechair accessible unisex and family bathroom; he encouraged me to think about how useful a pavilion could be for outdoor activities. He was clearly turning things over, even as he wanted to be kept "in a consultiung role."

Auldin's appearances at our candlestand to share "joys and concerns" was always amusing, always thought provoking, and usually surprising. I loved just stepping back and letting his bright wit speak. The way he spoke illuminated a dozeb other conversations with congregation members.

It is silly to say that I will miss him; it would be foolish not to think that the worlds of the UU church and Flint are changed and that the future includes a great unknown. What a presence! What a loss! What a shock!

With the end of Daylight Saving Time, the sun today will shine 4 hours and 43 minutes before noon, and 5 hours and 19 minutes after. That puts "high noon" at 12:18 or so--almost natural! The sky is gray, the morning chilly. I'm going to do some Qigong before showering . . .

Good morning.