This one goes out to those of you who knew Blake, and to those of you who didnt. This is an excerpt from our Irving Family Calendar. This is a piece of who my brother was. The brother who once said, There are more ways of securing peace other than what you do, Grandmother : We are fortunate to have a family so well travelled. Each of us has ventured out to explore new experiences, new people and new cultures. As I have travelled, the following statement is what I keep coming back to. It has provided me balance, calmness, and sanity. Throughout this past year it has guided me through unconditional love, trust, and acceptance. It has pushed me through uncertainty, unfamiliarity, regret, and lack of situational control. It has been a defining year to say the least. I hope on some regard you can all relate... Our destined future is unknown. Totally and completely. Theres nothing we can do about it. It is indefinitely and unpredictably shifting and realigning; forming our future into what we choose takes varying degrees of hard work, preparation, and confidence. Although we never know for sure what awaits us in our next calling, in the next city or village, or sometimes within the next few feet, the most precious part of living is that we simply go. How we choose to impact and contribute to the world around us will determine a great measure of our fate. Someone who loved me very much and taught me you get what you give, so go, and give well The next thing is that as we scatter around this world, our family has remained one that is morally grounded. All of you, in your own way, have combined to provide me with this organic set of morals and convictions - one that is shared with others constantly and tested daily. What makes me most proud and perhaps what I love most about our family is that I know this holds true for us all. We all provide equally to each other. We all contribute equally to each other. Is there no greater test of unity than this? But theres more than this moral balance and foundation that has enabled us to go where we feel is right, where were needed, or where we belong. Im convinced its the fact that well always be able to return to those we love, the same people who love us just as we are. Blake, November 2010
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:41:31 +0000