Robert Thé
04-02-2008, 04:54 AM
For those of you interested, this was what I read at David's funeral service.
___________________________
I first met David Grove in 1987 in London after I had qualified in hypnotherapy. After the first morning session was over, I remember thinking that I was in the presence of a very special, very brilliant healer. Twenty one years later, our paths had criss-crossed several times over the years, the joy of seeing each other each time increased in inverse proportion to the quality of the bad jokes we shared.
But now I realize that my initial impression of David was wrong.
I had been in the presence not just of a very special, brilliant healer, but also of a maverick amongst mavericks, an eccentric amongst eccentrics, a genius amongst genii.
So today on this day, the 21st day of January 2008, I find myself attending the funeral of someone very important to me, someone who opened my eyes to the reality of magic, and the infinite pathways to power of the human soul - someone whose very life was a testimony to a life lived accordingly to spirit; someone who truly was a modern day alchemist, able to turn dark into light; grief into joy; confusion into clarity, and to allow silence to find its voice and speak its truth.
David, my friend, through you your Maori ancestors spoke, and shared their wisdom, compassion and insight into the difficulties of living on this material plane.
It is only fitting, therefore, that you leave this plane to join them in a manner that reflects the sacredness of your worldly contribution in dispelling fear, awakening joy, and encouraging compassion, humility, elegance and laughter everywhere you went.
David left an enormously rich legacy. He left no children but his ideas and myriad inspirations, and it befalls upon those who studied and learnt from him to act as guardians to those very precious gems to watch over their growth until they illuminate the whole world with their radiant beauty.
So David, I thank you for your many gifts so generously shared. Thank you too for sharing this last great teaching with us, teaching us about community and connection.
May your final journey be sweet, straight and joyful.
I finally leave you with some words from Antonio Machado, a poet from my Spanish tradition.
Caminante, no hay camino: se hace camino al adelantar.
This translates as:
Traveller, there is no path but that which we forge upon forging ahead.
Vaya con Dios, mi amigo. Vaya con Dios, mi hermano. – Go with God, my friend, Go with God, my brother.
___________________________
I first met David Grove in 1987 in London after I had qualified in hypnotherapy. After the first morning session was over, I remember thinking that I was in the presence of a very special, very brilliant healer. Twenty one years later, our paths had criss-crossed several times over the years, the joy of seeing each other each time increased in inverse proportion to the quality of the bad jokes we shared.
But now I realize that my initial impression of David was wrong.
I had been in the presence not just of a very special, brilliant healer, but also of a maverick amongst mavericks, an eccentric amongst eccentrics, a genius amongst genii.
So today on this day, the 21st day of January 2008, I find myself attending the funeral of someone very important to me, someone who opened my eyes to the reality of magic, and the infinite pathways to power of the human soul - someone whose very life was a testimony to a life lived accordingly to spirit; someone who truly was a modern day alchemist, able to turn dark into light; grief into joy; confusion into clarity, and to allow silence to find its voice and speak its truth.
David, my friend, through you your Maori ancestors spoke, and shared their wisdom, compassion and insight into the difficulties of living on this material plane.
It is only fitting, therefore, that you leave this plane to join them in a manner that reflects the sacredness of your worldly contribution in dispelling fear, awakening joy, and encouraging compassion, humility, elegance and laughter everywhere you went.
David left an enormously rich legacy. He left no children but his ideas and myriad inspirations, and it befalls upon those who studied and learnt from him to act as guardians to those very precious gems to watch over their growth until they illuminate the whole world with their radiant beauty.
So David, I thank you for your many gifts so generously shared. Thank you too for sharing this last great teaching with us, teaching us about community and connection.
May your final journey be sweet, straight and joyful.
I finally leave you with some words from Antonio Machado, a poet from my Spanish tradition.
Caminante, no hay camino: se hace camino al adelantar.
This translates as:
Traveller, there is no path but that which we forge upon forging ahead.
Vaya con Dios, mi amigo. Vaya con Dios, mi hermano. – Go with God, my friend, Go with God, my brother.