Jack's Legacy - Standing for Social Justice

Opening Words - & chalice lighting

Come into this circle of loss
Come into this circle of compassion
Come into this circle of memory
Come into this circle of love
Come into this circle of celebration

Affirmation

Each of us is an artist
Whose task it is to shape life
Into some semblance of the pattern
You dream about. The molding
Is not of self alone, but of shared
Tomorrows and times we shall never see.
So let us be about our task.
The materials are very precious
And perishable.
- Arthur Graham

Here, in a few words, we can only begin to explore the remarkable life of our friend, Jack Allen:

He was a:
Coach, Teacher, confidant.
Activist
Referee
Negotiator
Mediator
Gardener
Volunteer
Mentor
Provocateur
And probably most of all, Friend

Jack stood for social justice & aligned his life to live his values. We are very fortunate to have known Jack, and to have his credo outlining what he believed and how it guided his life. His fascinating life - a mosaic, or perhaps an intricate macramé - was purposefully chosen & we have so much to learn from Jack.

Growing up in Wayne, Alberta, a small mining town, he realized about injustice early in his life. It's no surprise that for Jack, the first Unitarian Principle was first & foremost: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Jack knew that he was privileged, and it troubled him that everyone didn't share in the privileges that he enjoyed. As realistic as he was about the challenges in our world, he had faith that change for the greater good IS possible. Jack had great faith in people. He looked for the spark in each person, and he was willing to investigate as needed! He loved to talk with people, and provocative topics where his favourites: sex, politics, religion, and any taboo would be taken on with his amazing analysis.

Jack had a rich life. He had love, security, freedom & privilege. He took NONE of it for granted. And he had a deep sense of responsibility, which shaped his life.

Jack learned about community and world issues. He wrote letters, he demonstrated and protested at countless events over the decades including (just a few):

against - Anita Bryant, Nuclear weapons, military spending, the G8's agenda,
The cost of poverty
Marches for peace,
Human rights
Pride
Pro same-sex marriage
And in support of Henry Morgentaler

Jack experiences in World War two changed him forever. He was a gunner on a navy ship, and was witness to the deaths of young sailors - his buddies. The war seeded a strong desire for peace, which Jack carried throughout his life. He was deeply frustrated that wars continue And the lessons weren't learned with all the sacrifices made by his generation of young men.

His service in the Navy brought one very key element into Jack's life: his university degree. Money from Veterans Affairs paid for his education and Jack became a teacher.

Jack embraced differences & reached out. His had connections with Native People, with Hutterite communities, in the gay/lesbian community & had discussions on every political stripe imaginable. For Jack, there was always something to learn. And a stranger was only a friend you hadn't met yet.

Jack lived simply & looked to make the most of everything. He had mastery in 'reusing' materials - bits of wood, sheets of plastic and his rather infamous collection of string & rope - all valued resources that he often had creative uses for. His handwriting was very tiny on purpose: to conserve paper. Waste not; want not! Make the most of what you have.

Jack's wealth wasn't about money, but about being in the moment and enjoying the quality of life. His wealth was in his friends and community, living his values; learning and teaching all the way. He dared to dream that we can create a world where all humans can enjoy that quality of life.

Jack was intense. He was amazingly curious & an avid reader whose interests knew no boundaries. It was part of his personal responsibility to be informed, to build skill sets and use them. To the benefit of several communities, Jack preferred working holidays & he took great satisfaction in the builds that he & Elaine participated on.

Jack was daring individual - brave enough to be himself. He was personally courageous, and he also had a way of "daring" people to shake their notions or choices. Jack definitely made us think. He dared each of us to be our true selves.

Meditation

When someone dies, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the life that has ended.
What can we learn from Jack? What have we already learned from him? What is his legacy? To you?
To us as a congregation? Following the meditation you will be invited to share your thoughts.

Jack is dead - and we are still alive. Having known him, we are challenged to honour his life. Honesty, curiosity, acceptance, passion, communication....what single word comes to mind when I say "Jack Allen"?

His own "Rules of Life" were: