Connie Toverud
as Connie feels the imminence of her time coming,
I hope she sees the wonderful reality that has been her life,
I see her in my mind, in my heart,
and the Light of who she is blazes bright enough to dazzle me,
I love how much I know of her story,
and I am even more dazzled by how much of her story I don't know,
her story seems parallel to many stories
I have known within the Friends School community,
and also unique to her:
a good person who just wants to be of service
and cobbles together decisions and actions
that not only help them to achieve what's possible
but that through that achievement helps others find themselves
and their paths forward into what the Divine hopes for them,
I hear her story again in my heart:
she reluctantly goes to an auditorium
where Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is speaking,
Connie stands at the back, not ready to commit,
Elizabeth feels her presence,
the enormous possibilities within her,
and surprises Connie by calling her to the front,
and from that moment on,
she has felt and acted upon that calling,
her heart, her love, her giving,
had to release itself,
with her life Connie has found ways forward
into being there for family, for friends,
for anyone who could find her, and who needed her,
the bell of her life rings with pure tones,
a resolute sureness to what love and wisdom can express through her,
Connie knows the sorrows we've seen
and the heights to which we can rise,
may the Light of her life
join with the Lights of those she's touched,
and celebrate how glorious the Spirit can be.
by Henry H. Walker
August 1, ‘25
