It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of Louise Ferrell, who died on Tuesday May 28. Louise was the last of those who were founders or earliest members of the Fellowship; she was an active member and leader for more than sixty years. The Fellowship was deeply important to her; she nurtured and supported it, she took responsibility for its well-being and for the well-being of many other members. She painted more of the building than many others combined, and so much more.
Generations are shifting at the Fellowship. This is how it should be and how it must be. If we are lucky, the Fellowship and its values and commitments will outlive most of us, and will remain a gift and a resource to many, many people who will come after us. Those of us who are here now are recipients of the gifts of so many who came before us, and our job is to pass on the gift. In order to do that, we have to be present now, active now, taking care now, helping each other now.
Many people come to the Fellowship. Some stay a short while, some stay longer, some stay for their whole lives. Those who stay find sources of sustenance and purpose primarily by giving of themselves, by having a sense of responsibility for our shared goals and values. I can think of no greater source of fulfillment in life than to have been committed to something worthy of commitment. Louise was a model person in this way, for me and for many others. May we now become the bearers of her legacy.
