Urantia Book Society of Oklahoma

Friends,

Since Larry Geis was going to be up in this neck of the woods, how delighted 16 of us were that he agreed to give us an update on about every activity going on in the Urantia Movement today. Jerry and Bibi Pando graciously hosted the event. We brought Pot luck snacks, and they were as delicious as Larry's Presentation was insightful. Great to see old friends such as Harry and Rachel there.

Sorry you missed it if you weren't there. We had a wonderful time.

Tom

Friends,

I counted 28 hungry souls who feasted upon the inexhaustable discussions about nearly every conceivable topic in the Urantia Book as Chris Halvorson held forth, occasionally punctuated by the beautiful rhythmic poetry of David Glass. We started with a meditation at 11 AM on this extraordinarily beautiful August day. Then Barbara led us on a discussion by each of us about what it is that "drives" us. Many diversed ideas and personal revelations were elicited by this discussion. We then ate a wonderful material feast of a huge variety of the most delicious food you can imagine. We went on like this all day long and even into the evening and night stopping long enough to eat the plenteous leftovers. Chris is quite a thinker and is so willing to share his insights with us. If you want to see some of his written ideas or watch one of his study groups, his website is: http://perfectinghorizons.org/ Check it out.

Many of us continued these discussions on Sunday morning at Barbara Hester's house. Another delicious pot luck brunch was had and Chris again inexhaustively shared his many diverse insights.

Chris and Alaska friend Ed Harrigan had to catch their flights back home Sunday afternoon, and we had to say a temporary farewell to our friends.

Berkeley Elliott Challis 05/26/09

We are here to celebrate the life of Berkeley Elliott Challis. Berkeley is now a sleeping survivor. He is fine. He no longer suffers from the constant struggles of dealing with a relentless and progressive disease. However, we are still here left to make sense of this adversity and to find new life in ourselves without Berkeley’s presence. We shall overcome. Our Universe Sovereign Jesus of Nazareth has assured us that in His Father’s house are many mansions. We are certain that survival after death is dependant on the faintest flicker of faith. As we can testify, and having heard so many heart-warming stories about Berkeley, it is apparent that his flicker was a lightening bolt. Every gain Berkeley experienced in his mortal life is a direct contribution to the enrichment of the first stages of his immortal survival experience.

What kind of comfort can we all receive now that Berkeley Challis is no longer here? It is especially hard for many reasons. He was young. His death was sudden. His death was not natural. We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. The depth of our pain is profound and continuous. The joys of living are ever threatened by the sorrows of death. Such a life on such a planet! So what is the source of our healing and comfort? We know in our minds that we will heal and that our sorrow will be replaced with profound joy. But right now our distress is immediate, acute and all encompassing. It is easy to think this thought about future relief, but it is not immediately soothing, as in an analogous way, to thinking that someday in the future we will no longer feel any pain in the immediate aftermath of a physical injury. That thought doesn’t make us feel any better. All we can focus on is our pain. But still it is true. Healing will occur. Pain will lessen. Gladness will return. So the big question is how do we begin this mending process? We already have. Anyone who has been in contact with Michael and Beth’s family in the last seven days has witnessed this and participated in this process. Our therapy is twofold – personal and interpersonal. God is personally grieving with us individually and going through this with us. We must individually look to our Father in Heaven for personal strength and comfort. Talk to God about this. In faith, share your pain and try to sort out your feelings one on one with Him. He’s there. He knows. He comforts. This is personal. This is vital. The interpersonal aspect of healing has been nothing less than astounding. You have taken your personal energy and found hundreds of ways to express your love and sympathy. Emails, visits, phone calls, letters, and the online obituary guest book, like a cascading landslide of love have poured down on our grieving friends and have been a huge spiritual cushion of healing. I am so proud of you all for this spirit of family involvement and brotherhood. Yes, we are well on our way to reaching the other side of this tragedy. Our faith assures us of God’s love and nurturance and gives us the energy to express that love, as Berkeley did, in service to others.

We all mourn now, not in a show of ostentatious or outward mourning, but in an amazing display of tenderheartedness, sympathy and compassion for each other. This tragedy and loss has brought out the best in us as we struggle to find consolation in each other. We have displayed a wonderful and amazing love for the Challis/Hansel family for all these seven endless days and culminate today in a huge expression of group empathy and warmth. How easy it would be to consider this the closure of our mourning. But it shall not be so. The grieving process has only gone through its most acute phases so far, and many heavy and challenging days lie ahead. It is now up to you to continue your ministry. Don’t stop now. Continue praying. Strengthen your inner self and gird yourself for the difficult days ahead. What I recommend to you all in the days and months ahead is to contact our Challis and Hansel friends and extend the mantle of service so freely and frequently demonstrated by Berkeley. Find some small service for them as you pass by. Invite them out for lunch. Come over for a cup of coffee. Recount for them some happy memory of Berkeley. Spontaneously bring over one of your favorite dishes. Write a card. Work their garden. Remember them. You will help them fill a seemingly unfillable void as the days stretch closer to their eventual and certain joyous reunion with their beloved son. To the Challis and Hansel family I recommend that you accept this coming expression of love and turn down no hand reaching out to you in the service expression lovingly offered to you. You too will be amazed, and already have been, by the healing that comes in the service response you share with us. You are sorrowful and need our comfort. We too are grieving and need your support. Let the tears come. See them as the healing water of life poured out by our Master and Sovereign. Have the faith to know that God is personally wiping away these tears and replacing them with the hope of the ages to come. The banner of the spirit of service opportunity so well demonstrated by our brother Berkeley must be flown frequently by all of us. This then is the lesson that Berkeley leaves to us all now. Go forth and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and be led to glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Friends,

Come grieve with the Challis' and friends at the passing of Berkeley Elliott Challis this Tuesday at the Mayflower church at 3 PM. You can view Berkeley Challis' Obituary at this link and sign the guest book: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?n=berkeley-challis&pid=127611468

Here it is in text:

Berkeley Elliott Challis took sudden leave from our planet on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Berkeley was born on May 17, 1982 in Oklahoma City to proud parents, Michael Challis and Elizabeth Hansel Challis. He is also survived by his brother, Samuel Challis sister, Claire Challis and his grandmother, Lois Hansel as well as aunts and uncles, Frank Challis, Steven and Sherry Hansel, Mark Hansel and Dianna Du'Aura and cousins, Nathaniel and Adrienne Hansel. Berkeley will be remembered by his amazing willingness to be of service to those in need. He was a true friend and always ready to lend a hand. He was a skilled automotive technician, a carpenter, a gardener, and the best cook in the family. Our community sadly will miss out on Berkeley's future supreme contributions and service to his family and friends. The Mansions on High now have a dedicated servant as he continues his Paradise ascent to find the satisfactions of eternal service. A Memorial service and celebration of Berkeley's life will be held at Mayflower Congregational Church, 3901 NW 63rd St., Oklahoma City, on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to Clay Crossing Foundation, PO Box 8, Maud, OK 74854, would be appreciated.