Craig Burlington ’69: On Mourning

Mourning eight dear friends in the last two years or so, four of them from the Class of 1969 at GTS, (Dick Downing, John Buchanan, Steve Caldwell and Ralph Smith), makes me ponder mortality, friendship, love, the memory of GTS, and the place it has in our lives.

My dear classmates, whose regular contact I sorely miss, would want to contribute to this memoir recalling what meant the most to us during our three years on the Close 1966-1969.  I bet each one would join me in saying the Chapel was first. Developing the habit of Morning and Evening Prayer, all of us coming together in the quiet at the sound of the chapel bells, remains the most formative influence of GTS, for me at least.

Yes, I remember sherry hours before 5:30 EP as formative also, maybe in Dr. Bosher’s apartment, Dr. Bigham’s, or simply in Dickie Downing’s dorm room!  But wherever we were or with whom, it’s the camaraderie and the laughter I remember getting us ready to pray together.

Fifty-four years later I can picture where Dickie was across the chancel under the sub dean’s chair, moving back a row each year ‘til he was right below Dr. Dawley, singing his heart out:

“Oh, what their joy and their glory must be, those endless sabbaths the blessed ones see…”.

And now I find myself praying that is the truth for him, and for our dear classmates, John, Ralph and Steve.  We all had nicknames for each other which I so wish I could remember.  The only one is Caldwell’s:  we called him “WONDER”!  Oh, how we could laugh!  As I write this, I see each one of those men laughing their hearts out at one thing or another. And that characteristic lasted their whole lives, which one more recent picture of three of us will convey.

(l to r) Craig Burlington, John Buchanan, Dick Downing, Class of ‘69 (circa 2012)

Laughter, when I think of it, is such a gift of grace.  I remember seeing the “Laughing Christ” in Haiti on a mission trip with our youth group in the mid-eighties.  I was taken aback, shocked to see Jesus utterly delighted over one thing or another and identified totally!

I smile now, even with a tear in my eye, thinking of my classmates, mourning their passing, but delighting in their memory, ever grateful for bringing us together in September of 1966, now fifty-seven years later, as incredible as that may seem.

It makes me think of the gifts General has given us:  faithfulness in prayer, laughter and love in our hearts, lifelong friendship that made us feel like brothers, a devotion to God in Christ expressed through priestly ministry across the country in multiple dioceses and parishes.

My heart overflows thinking about my departed classmates, and though I am sad, how can I keep from singing?