To say his life was full is certainly an understatement.  There are certainly chapters remarkable and chapters not remarkable.  This is one who buried too many too early from his family, not the least of which were his two brothers.

As one reads the accolades from a bi-partisan group of Senators, one gets the sense they really mean what they say and are not simply being nice.  If I may wax nostalgic, he represents an 'old school' of Senators who knew how to fuss and fight for 15 rounds and then go out to dinner together and truly enjoy one another's company- an art that seems to be in limited supply these days.

He was a fighter, a bridge builder, tenacious, uncompromising and a negotiator.  The list of legislation and issues affecting our common life upon which we find his imprint are deep: health care provision for children, OSHA, education, the environment are only a few.  He regularly fought for the 'least of these' in our country.  I do believe that if there is some conversation Jesus wishes to have with us at the 'Pearly Gates', it will have much more to do with how we treated our children than what we believed about him.

For many years All Souls has valued a nickname of 'All Sorts', reflecting a hunger to be a place for all sorts and conditions of human beings.  As I reflect on the life of Senator Kennedy, I find grist for understanding what it takes to earn that moniker; we must be willing to be a place that does not pretend about some of our less than redeemed days, we must be a place that is willing to wear its passions and its ideals on its sleeves, we must be a place that 'reaches across aisles' and seeks out ALL sorts of folks.  If we are able to embrace the messiness and honesty of that task, if we are willing to not pretend about imperfection or allow others to hold us hostage because of it, then maybe, just maybe, we will be able to look at our imperfect lives and see we have left this world a bit better for the 'least' and the 'most'.

Peace,

Todd Donatelli

a world

are we able to live with this kind of messiness,

contradictions,