The Wisdom of Solomon and Its Relevance
in a Modern Life Well Lived

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord my strength and my redeemer.

Winfield Amos "Bill"Foreman, Jr., my late husband, is the reason I stand in front of you this evening. His later years of life, as you will hear tonight, were a true example of God working in us and through us. I am here to witness to that fact.

Bill's story is an interesting one of a remarkable man who worked through adversity, pain, life challenges as well as challenges to his life with grace, dignity and elegance. His was a life well lived, which truly exemplified God's love, compassion, and caring for those who are willing to "walk the rugged way" and believe in Him.

Growing up Presbyterian, and even as a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the Book of Wisdom and the entire Apocrypha were not a part of my lexicon.

But was it not Martin Luther who said the Apocrypha was, "useful and good to read?" I am told that it contains the first murder mystery and as you probably know, includes the historical account of the Maccabean wars. The Apocrypha in the New English Bible from which I read this evening contains 15 books none of which are included nor are a part of the Hebrew Scriptures. Even so, they are used in the Episcopal Church in place of Old Testament readings.

When Father David Storm, close friend and our priest for many years, and I reviewed the readings for inclusion in Bill's memorial service, there was no doubt in my mind. One choice would be Wisdom 3:1-5, 9 which I have just read. This was the right selection. In today's vernacular, one would say, the passage resonated with me. Bill's life had always been in God's hand. He was a just man. He had had chastisement, pain, and suffering. He had been tested, indeed he had been tested.

In a recent conversation with Father Storm, I asked him to share his insights on this passage from the book of Wisdom. He said, "It speaks to the reality of human life and human dying - pain, suffering as well as grace, mercy and peace. Someone dies: truth confronts and comforts us. Truth is the inescapable reality of death that faces us all. Yet truth is also the irrepressible promise of faith that strengthens us."

It is difficult for those of us left behind to face the truth of death especially when it is someone you love deeply and completely. But that is the reality of the cycle of life which does not waver. It is never easy. Yet with faith, we know that God cares. He is there for us and with us all along life's road and gives us peace and immortality at the end of our earthly life.

The headline of the Seattle Times editorial obituary by Tan Vinh read: "Businessman always dressed to the nines, Winfield Foreman, 90, was a prominent clothing executive," The next paragraphs read: befitting a gentleman whose family once owned one of the nation's largest clothing franchises, Winfield A."Bill"Foreman was always impeccably dress - a white handkerchief in the breast pocket of his sport coat always with a tie or ascot.

"He always looked as if he should be on the cover of GQ magazine. He had an innate sense of fashion, said Sharon Friel, a family friend.( Is it any wonder that he disliked hospital gowns!)

The story goes on to tell of his father's death when Bill was in his teens, his move to Minneapolis to live with his aunt and uncle, his graduation summa cum laude,( and I might add Phi Beta Kappa from Carleton and, indeed, a classmate and friend of Maggie Dickerman Bush); his work in the business serving in every capacity from sales to management of Foreman & Clark; his Navy service (gunnery officer) in WWII , his leaving the family business to strike out on his own and his rapid rise and success in the retail industry. ( I add, in New York and Philadelphia.)

It speaks of his retirement in 1980 and his move from Philadelphia to Seattle to join me. The years that followed were given to community service and international help as a volunteer of IESC, the International Executive Service Corp. (And I add, his work with St. Stephens, Cloud 9 and Cathedral Associates all were memorable.) His knowledge was ever expanding, his reading and learning constant.(And I add, his love of music unending, and his help and counseling paramount to me as my career and job responsibilities grew.)

He has been described as the quintessential gentleman, "an unusual and fine man with a quick wit, gracious and thoughtful, an inquisitive man with great stamina and style." Another friend noted, "He always had a twinkle in those blue eyes."

What is missing from the descriptions above are the life changing challenges and pain suffered during his lifetime which were overcome with a steadfast and unyielding faith especially in the years from late-July l996 until his death. He never talked much about the war years and what he had experienced. He always looked ahead. He did not live in the past.

I am not sure if this was the influence of his Aunt Nell Foreman, a devote Christian Scientist, or his way of living and contending with life when trouble came his way.

Paul in Romans 12 verse 12 said: Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer. And that is what Bill did.

Near tragedy hit him in the early 1980s when I was leaving on a business trip. He was suffering from a bleeding ulcer. Friends came to the rescue and by the time I got home, another challenge was upon us, prostate cancer, discovered during his hospital examination. Several operations including radioactive implants seemed to deal with the problem for the moment.

We had hope, we had love, God's loving grace and Bill's spirit and desire for life, even as his low blood pressure now began to trouble him more and more. A trip to Mayo Clinic, God's watchful eyes and good medicine seemed to intervene.

The early 1990s brought the return of prostate cancer. Our faith and Bill's desire for life were tested again. In late-July l996, the loss of sodium in his system brought him to his knees and into ICU. The recovery looked good, but that was not to be.

Several hours after being moved to another floor of the hospital, he suffered cardiac arrest leading to a comma of several days' duration and then massive pneumonia which I was told was more than a man of 81 years of age might overcome. But with God's grace and help, doctors and Bill's will to live, he amazed everyone after nearly three weeks in ICU. He was an example of faith to many in the hospital at that time.

Rehabilitation was a necessity and a challenge for both of us, yet we both persevered. We were at last homeward bound, not as before, but we were together and blessed by God's gift of life and more years ahead. Problems struck again quickly, this time in the form of congestive heart failure; then some rare condition along with pneumonia; removal of fluid from both lungs, a collapsed lung, another bout with pneumonia, and MRSA. How much more could his ravaged body take?

He wanted to live and he did it with God's help. The hospital staff called him the miracle man of room 349 at Providence hospital. He was beloved for his spirit, grit and tenacity. He was a true example that there is a greater power than man and that the staff's care giving mattered in the scheme of life.

Rehabilitation both at the hospital and Park Shore continued but a fall and resulting broken hip once again returned us to the hospital and uncertainty. Strengthened and repaired, we returned to our home in the spring of 1997, changed, yet alive, and thankful for life and a spirit to go on living.

The years ahead were challenging, yet rewarding. They brought us closer together as only a 24/7 pair can be who have traveled the rocky-road together. Dr. Bernie S. Siegel in his book, Love, Medicine & Miracles, quotes a friend " '. . .when you don't have your health, if you have someone who cares you have everything."'

Bill's fragile health continued. We had good times, even with several more hospitalizations. We toasted the birth of his granddaughter, our 26th wedding anniversary and his 90th birthday -- true milestones when one looks back over the highway of our life together. "Do not die without having lived," writes Dr. Siegel. Bill fought for his life and lived it well. When in November 2005, he could fight no longer, and said, "I can't make it," my answer was, "It's all right to go to God." One of those last nights of his life in Swedish hospital he sang Mary Baker Eddy's beautiful song, Feed My Sheep. Shepherd show me how to go o'er the hillside steep, how to gather, how to sow, how to feed Thy sheep; I will listen for Thy voice, lest my footsteps stray; I will follow and rejoice all the rugged way.

Father Dave accompanied me on the trip to Evergreen-Washelli. This was a time of testing and finality for me. The funeral director assigned to us was a gentle man, well-dressed and with a tie perfectly tied. Bill would have approved. He tried to make me as comfortable as possible as we filled in the death certificate questions.

Bill's occupation was mentioned and Father Dave said, "You probably don't remember the Foreman & Clark store here." The Director quietly responded, "My First Communion suit came from Foreman & Clark in Omaha." There are guardian angels and one of ours was sitting across the table from me. I knew that everything would be taken care of properly.

"The message is to choose life in this moment, not to try to live forever," writes Dr. Siegal. He goes on to say, "Someday, when you're tired and sore and want to leave your body, your death will be a healing - not a failure. You will have been an example of how to deal with adversity and leave a legacy of love."

Bill has left that legacy and God, I am assuming, has found him worthy.

Amen

* "All things work together for good for them that love God."

* "Take problems as opportunities. Every step we go is on a higher plane."
From his Aunt Nell Foreman (and I assume from her Christian Science teachings)

* "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need."

* "Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace. Thereby good will come unto thee."

* "Fear not for I am with thee. Be not afraid, for I am thy God I will uphold thee with my righteousness. Underneath are the everlasting arms."

Be like the bird who halting in his flight
On limb too slight,
Feels it give way beneath him, and yet sings
Knowing that he hath wings.

Victor Hugo

1805 38th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-3447
Phone: (206) 324-2573 Fax: (206) 324-2589
epiphanyparish@epiphanyseattle.org