A Tribute to A Great Man: Dr. John Seeley

Delivered January 5, 2008
St. Matthew’s Parish - Pacific Palisades, California
by The Rev. Canon Peter Gwillim Kreitler
Standing in front of the Family

Thank you John, Ron, David and Peter for the honor and privilege of sharing a few thoughts about your Dad. I am eternally grateful.

To the Pulpit Genesis 1:1 (Hebrew) Beresheath bara Elohim eth ha…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, then God created atham and issha, man kind and woman kind and placed them in the garden to Avodah and shomer, keep and serve, and then God created John Seeley as a voice for many - then God broke the mold.

Rarely does America see one life as being representative of an entire generation. Yet, a great man has walked among us, while some here barely noticed, we have witnessed the Americanization of John Seeley unfold.

Born at the start of World War 1, fatherless at 9, John was effectively orphaned immigrant at 15. Raised in rural foster families in Canada, befriended by a Presbyterian clergyman, he worked as a sheepherder and donut maker and walked 20 miles to access his first book on psychology. Self taught he graduated from high school in 2 years and then earned his degree from the prestigious University of Chicago.

Against all odds John rose to international prominence as one of the top 150 scholars in the 20th century. Dean of the most important Think Tank in America, described as the greatest sociologist to practice in Canada, and one of the architects of the Peace Corps, this loyal and devoted husband of Margaret and the father of four wonderful unique boys, impacted the lives of thousands in all sectors of society.

9 ½ remarkable decades, each shaped his life in a unique way; all prepared him for who he became. This gifted and cherished elder helped define America as we know it today.

I once asked: “John: When does one become wise? He responded Oh, I suppose around age 75-80.” Many acquire knowledge, yet are not wise; some are well educated, but insight into the human condition alludes them. Then there is that rarified air where the wisdom keepers take their breaths, yet….

Stubbornly, America often honors the wrong generation, for only in time passed, and decades fully embraced, do great individuals like John appear, and yes, albeit very, very rarely.

John first walked into the life of St. Matthew’s, and my life, when we were worshipping in Briggs Hall after the fire of 1978. Resplendent in his double breasted blue blazer with the herald on the pocket, this then 65 year old defied his own estimation for wisdom was apparent the minute he began to speak. Being in the presence of elders and wisdom keepers is immediately perceived, if willing to listen. This is why God has given us two ears and only one mouth – to listen.

I knew St. Matthews was in for a treat having this extra-ordinary man as a parishioner, as his colleagues, and family has known for years. 30 years later we say goodbye to a beloved apostle and teacher.

Like John, we have been given a birth we did not request, a grave we can not escape, and in between defines who we are as a person. John never stopped becoming someone else. Every day was a window to greater insight about life. Whether in the presence of the great thinkers like Thomas Merton, Ivan Illich, Arnold Toynbee, Bishop James Pike, mentors all, and some good friends, or advice seekers who came to his office that looked like a combination of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and the New York Public Library, or sung karaoke in his living room, everyone’s story taught John about life; this is the crux of his wisdom.

Each of us here was a teacher for John. Every John-Thou encounter was treated with respect. Those of you who read to him, drove him, ministered unto him, taught him, or debated him on a national stage, informed his story; this is in part why he was an elder among elders.

This humble non-conformist once said to me that “in the crowd of the silent we have a moral obligation to speak.” Throughout his 94 years John was not afraid to use his voice. Now it is our turn.

I will try and do the impossible. Offer ten learning’s to reflect the wisdom of one who offered thousands of insights into the human story.

#1. Make time to break bread with people you love. John loved coming to communion. Frankly, we should retire his pew space and make a plaque. Eucharist became a central part of his life. The symbolism spoke volumes to him.

In addition, John loved having meals with friends, family, and strangers equally. He loved Thai coconut soup, with shrimp. He really loved shrimp. Actually, John saw in meals shared, the place where God intersected with his life. Crumbs on someone’s sweater is a tell tale sign that breaking bread was important. Food was a vector for relations, both with God and family and friends.

#2 Material possessions are always of less importance than ideas and people. As the decades clicked by the more he was sure of that belief. A nation lost in a world of accumulation is not a healthy place; he knew our addiction to consumption blocked our enlightenment. To live more simply so that others may simply live is a message for our times. Thank you for modeling this John. We are all complicit in consuming more than our fair share, but you demonstrated where our true values must lie.

#3 Respect those who serve you – we are all brothers and sisters. John had an uncanny ability to make people of any estate feel worthy. The crumbling waitress at Teddy’s lit up when John ordered his eggs, toast and bacon. John always found a way to bless those who served him. John turned standard procedure on its head for he honored the least among us with genuine love and affection.

#4 John always had enough time for everyone. With a legendary memory, recall of data was uncanny, yet he went beyond and used his memory to honor the date of one’s ordination, baptism, birthday or anniversary. John remembered others, and often with a phone call or note - Life was never too busy or complex to remember a friend.

#5. More concerned for the future than at any time in his life, John’s brilliance was manifest when he stated “we no longer know where stop is.” In our 30 years of regular Tuesday lunches we talked about over-population, over-consumption, over-militarization and our over-confidence that our anthropocentric (human centered) world view will survive. John declared: “today enough is never enough, and the fragile island home is now over-burdened and over-whelmed.”

#6. All are authorized, empowered and emboldened to speak truth to power. John learned at an early age that it was ok to challenge injustice, as he did vociferously during the 60’s. With a true personal sense of vocation, even when debating the church, which he did throughout his life, John spoke truth to power in love. – A unique ability. To those governors and legislators who tried to legitimize the death penalty he risked much in his strident consistency against an unjust aspect of our society. His hundreds of letters condemning this barbaric practice were no more strident than his pleadings with the Canadian government to give up corporal punishment to children. And he succeeded, they did!

#7. Speak love, live love, and show love was the over-arching principle of John’s life. Experiencing this was for him, the pivotal moment in his life. When as a little boy being tucked under the covers one night by his nanny, John was told that ‘God loved him.’ From then on and clearly manifest later in life, he always wanted to examine what he could do for God. If God loved me, wow – incredible – how I can say thanks; serve others; even if it meant being the first male member of the altar guild of St. Matthew’s and probably the oldest acolyte to ever serve West of the Mississippi.

#8. John, who dialogued with many of the grand minds of the 20th century, reminded me of Archbishop Desmond Tutu - Of similar stature, always on the forefront of social change, both recognized the divine spark is in everyone. Never an unkind word about those who he disliked, John discerned the essence of another’s worth even if disagreeing or battling on the forefront of an idea. Always respectful in every human transaction. That alone set him apart.

#9 Remove ladders and create circles. Hierarchy was honored when appropriate, but no one was below or above in John’s world. All belonged in the circle of creation, from the smallest of creatures in the fragile garden we continue to neglect, to the people in positions of power. John’s world was one big circle of inclusion where everyone’s breath mattered.

#10 Take every issue to the next highest good. For me personally; the single most profound commandment of any scripture came from the lips of John Seeley.

If concerned about the plight of children in Africa as level one, then ask what is the next level of good, and then the next etc? If angry over segregation, or global warming – ask what can be done. If agonizing over any issue, take it to the next level.

As by example: John informed by the teachings of non-violent persons from many cultures, as well as Jesus and the 10 Commandments, knew that killing was wrong, even when state sanctioned. His highest good was to challenge directly using reason, theological underpinnings, and the power of persuasion. Every action and decision we make has a consequence, thus, his voice on behalf of thousands of voiceless on death row was his way of responding to being told God loved him. Always being willing to do more is the way we serve the creator God.

It remains my deeply held belief that John’s highest good was to give voice to the voiceless; especially and most assuredly children. Above all, John loved children. Katy and I knew this directly for John was daughter Laura’s godfather, and supremely influential in her life.

The highest good for John was fighting for the rights of children at home, in the educational system, and at a national level. Our role is to continue to pave the road for our children and grandchildren.

(John’s voice saying: “Happy children of children we fostered and cherished shall see noble vistas of freedom before them on the roads we built well for the love we bore them.”

We have just heard John invite us to the future to our highest good. We will break bread a little later. We will take a small bit of wine and bread symbolizing the circles that John loved, the divine in everyone, and the fact that we are equally all children of God when we come to the altar, or for that matter even if we do not come.

The highest good is never about personal salvation out of this world, but rather salvation integral to this world. Being involved in humankind is how we show we love God. Preserving the story we have inherited for our children and grandchildren was John’s life.

By listening to and internalizing the voice of this great man during this teachable moment, we give thanks that John our father, John our grandfather, John our friend and John our mentor has walked the path of life with us.

And his words once again to remind us of our calling: “Happy children of children we fathered and cherished shall see noble vistas of freedom before them, on the roads we built well for the love we bore them.”

John continued to call us forward:

“We need to labor and build for fairer and fairer lands forever.”

Thanks John, you are the single most important individual in my life, outside of my family. As long as I am able, I will carry your torch and speak for justice, inter-generational equity, and give voice to the voiceless for as you taught me in the crowd of the silent we have a moral obligation to speak - and because I saved a few shards, a few pieces of that mold that God broke when you were born.

Your friend,

Peter